Do you remember when you were a child and got a new toy? You
wanted to play with it all the time. You wouldn’t go anywhere
without it. Your toy gave you so much joy.
I had the chance to experience this sort of
”
childhood joy
”
last weekend. My toy wasn’t the new Tickle Me Elmo, but a
rotisserie attachment for the grill.
Do you remember when you were a child and got a new toy? You wanted to play with it all the time. You wouldn’t go anywhere without it. Your toy gave you so much joy.
I had the chance to experience this sort of “childhood joy” last weekend. My toy wasn’t the new Tickle Me Elmo, but a rotisserie attachment for the grill.
I know it may seem a little silly to be this excited about something for the grill. But when you realize all the things you can do with a rotisserie attachment, you will be excited too.
Roasting whole chickens on the grill is simplified with a rotisserie. Add a whole chicken or two to the spit, load it onto the grill and into the motor, and about an hour and a half later, you have a perfect fire-roasted rotisserie chicken. The same thing can be done with any roast. Season it, insert the spit and leave the rest to the grill.
With a few attachments, chickens and roasts aren’t the only things that can be fire-roasted on a rotisserie. With the addition of a flat-basket attachment, whole fish, fish steaks or thick fish filets can be fire roasted on a rotisserie. With a drum basket, peppers, mushrooms and other vegetables will also benefit from fire roasting on a rotisserie.
The beauty of using a rotisserie is that you do not have to devote constant attention to it. Since the rotisserie is constantly turning, it is unlikely for something to burn. Excess fat drips away and becomes smoke, creating additional flavor. It also bastes the chicken or roast, keeping it moist. Since the food you are fire-roasting on a rotisserie is constantly moving, it also cooks the food evenly on all sides.
If you are in the market for a rotisserie attachment, there are many to choose from. Some of the better-known brands are Grill Care, Char Broil and Weber. The brand you buy is not as important as the quality of rotisserie you buy. Some on the market sell for around $30 for the spit, side prongs and motor.
Unfortunately, you get what you pay for. Many of the rotisseries in this price range only accommodate up to 7 pounds. That is only enough for two chickens or one medium-size roast. If this is all you plan to fire-roast on a rotisserie, it would be a fine purchase. But if you plan on larger roasts, a ham or a turkey, spend a little more money and purchase a premium rotisserie. The one I purchased accommodates up to 30 pounds and cost $60. This price is still quite a bit less than the smallest rotisserie ovens featured on late-night infomercials.
Gas grills and many box-style charcoal grills have similar attachment holes and openings to accommodate rotisserie motor attachments. Many rotisseries on the market are also universal, meaning that the brand of rotisserie will fit many different brands of grills. Mine came with a few different attachments to accommodate a variety of grills. The instructions will also feature weights and times for various items you can fire-roast on your rotisserie.
It is also important to follow all of the instructions with your rotisserie attachment. Proper installation means that the motor will work correctly and last longer. I also want to mention one specific safety tip – the metal parts will be extremely hot, and caution should be used when removing it from the grill.
In this week’s recipe, I am explaining the technique for fire-roasting Rock Cornish Game Hens on a rotisserie. Rock Cornish Game Hens make a beautiful presentation, and each is an appropriate portion size for the average eater.
Since I wanted to keep my first experiment on the rotisserie simple, I used lemon pepper seasoning. The hens were washed, patted dry and added to the spit. I added the spit to the grill and then seasoned the hens when the motor was turning the spit. They were fantastic! The development of a beautiful light golden brown also added great flavor. I thought they were better than the rotisserie chickens available at the grocery store.
I plan on writing many more columns in the future on rotisserie attachments, their accessories and how to fire-roast with them. It will add to the variety of techniques and recipes you will see in the coming months. Until then, try some of your own variations that you would normally prepare in the oven. You will not be disappointed, and the investment in a rotisserie attachment for your grill is well worth it.
Mitch L. Mariani II is a self-taught amateur chef. Questions, comments and suggestions should be e-mailed to mi*******************@***oo.com. For tips and recipes, visit www.geocities.com/mixedgrillsouthvalley.
