How to grill juicy chicken breast and roasted broccoli

Brining chicken breast ensures moist meat. Roasting broccoli and turning scraps into a rich soup spins a simple meal into a masterpiece.

6
STEPS
TOOLS

Take chicken breasts and split them in half (if thicker than 1 inch) if not, place breasts in ziplock bag and pound to 1/2 inch thickness  (I used a jar to pound the meat thin)

Take chicken breasts and split them in half (if thicker than 1 inch) if not, place breasts in ziplock bag and pound to 1/2 inch thickness (I used a jar to pound the meat thin)

Make a brine-mix 2 tbsp salt, 2 cups water, 1 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tbsp pickling spice.

Make a brine-mix 2 tbsp salt, 2 cups water, 1 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tbsp pickling spice.

Shake thoroughly to dissolve salt.

Shake thoroughly to dissolve salt.

Pour brine in chicken bag and put in a container (in case it spills) and fridge for at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours.

Pour brine in chicken bag and put in a container (in case it spills) and fridge for at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours.

Cut stems off broccoli

Cut stems off broccoli

Cut florets into 1 inch steaks, lay them flat on a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil, drizzle 1 tbsp oil on broccoli and season with salt and pepper

Cut florets into 1 inch steaks, lay them flat on a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil, drizzle 1 tbsp oil on broccoli and season with salt and pepper

Cut stems into 1/2 chunks. Put stem chunks and cast off florets in a steamer. Steam for 10 minutes until fully softened.

Cut stems into 1/2 chunks. Put stem chunks and cast off florets in a steamer. Steam for 10 minutes until fully softened.

Put 2 tbsp butter 1/4 Parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 pepper in blender

Put 2 tbsp butter 1/4 Parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 pepper in blender

Put steamed broccoli in blender add 1/2 cup steamer water to blender and pur\u00e9e until smooth. Add water 1 tbsp at a time until a thick soup forms.

Put steamed broccoli in blender add 1/2 cup steamer water to blender and purée until smooth. Add water 1 tbsp at a time until a thick soup forms.

Puree should look something like this

Puree should look something like this

Put broccoli mix back into pot and keep warm until ready to serve

Put broccoli mix back into pot and keep warm until ready to serve

Preheat grill

Preheat grill

Wash brine off chicken and dry thoroughly

Wash brine off chicken and dry thoroughly

Whip up a dry rub and coat chicken.( I used my homemade chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and smoked salt) drizzle chicken with 1 tbsp oil

Whip up a dry rub and coat chicken.( I used my homemade chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and smoked salt) drizzle chicken with 1 tbsp oil

Broil broccoli (after eating this version I recommend par steaming the florets for a couple minutes before broiling) I broiled the broccoli about 8 minutes 4 minutes a side

Broil broccoli (after eating this version I recommend par steaming the florets for a couple minutes before broiling) I broiled the broccoli about 8 minutes 4 minutes a side

Grill chicken about 3-4 minutes a side.  Rotate chicken if heat is uneven

Grill chicken about 3-4 minutes a side. Rotate chicken if heat is uneven

No need to rest chicken but I tent with foil to keep it warm until I'm ready to plate

No need to rest chicken but I tent with foil to keep it warm until I'm ready to plate

Cut across grain at a slight angle

Cut across grain at a slight angle

Now for the fun part of plating. Get an idea in your head of how the finished product should look like. Look at some fancy cookbooks for inspiration. I spread broccoli pur\u00e9e on the plate

Now for the fun part of plating. Get an idea in your head of how the finished product should look like. Look at some fancy cookbooks for inspiration. I spread broccoli purée on the plate

Slide cut chicken off cutting board onto plate

Slide cut chicken off cutting board onto plate

Place roasted broccoli on pur\u00e9e. I always try to plate a couple different ways until something looks really good, still need to work on this.

Place roasted broccoli on purée. I always try to plate a couple different ways until something looks really good, still need to work on this.

That's better

  • 2.0 Chicken breast
  • 2.0Tbsp Salt
  • 1.0Tbsp Sugar
  • 2.0Tbsp Chili spice mix
  • 1.0bnch Broccoli
  • 1/4c Parmesan cheese
  • 2.0Tbsp Butter
  • 1/2Tbsp Pickling spice