Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad
Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

Happy Birthday America, Sweet Land of Liberty!

As much as we have a passion for food and cooking – holidays, of course – have significance beyond what we’re eating. In addition to roasting a big beautiful turkey on Thanksgiving, we spend time giving thanks and sharing our gratitude. On Independence Day, while we relish our BBQ chicken and burgers, we celebrate our LIBERTY and FREEDOM!

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

Patriotic Grilled Chicken Recipe

Patriotic Grilled Chicken Recipe

Grilled Lemon Cumin Chicken

  • zest from one lemon
  • 3/4 t. ground cumin
  • 3/4 t. salt
  • 3/4 t. pepper
  • 4 chicken thighs, with bone and skin

Combine seasonings in a small bowl then rub into chicken. Let chicken stand one hour at room temperature.

Coat chicken with olive oil. Place on a hot, clean, well-oiled grill, skin-side down. Lower heat to medium and cover the grill.

Patriotic Grilled Chicken Recipe

Cook approximately 10 minutes. Turn heat to low and continue to cook, letting the low heat finish the cooking without flipping the chicken over, about 5 minutes. Use a thermometer to test for doneness. This method produces extra crispy skin and juicy meat.

Savory Blueberry Compote Recipe

Savory Blueberry Compote Recipe

Blueberries have found a home in my garden this year. They grow surprisingly well in Southern California, just make sure the soil is well-drained.

Savory Blueberry Compote Recipe

Savory Blueberry Compote

  • 2/3 c. rice vinegar
  • 1 T. sugar
  • 1/4 t. salt
  • scant 1/4 t. each caraway seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, black pepper
  • 1 star anise
  • 1/2 cinnamon stick
  • a few slices of ginger
  • 2 c. blueberries
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

Savory Blueberry Compote Recipe

In a sauce pan, combine all ingredients except blueberries and onion. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Let sit for 30 minutes to extract flavors then strain the liquid back into the pan, discarding solids.

Add blueberries to the strained liquid and bring to a light boil. Cook for a couple minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat, add onion, and let compote sit at room temperature for about an hour.

Strawberry Arugula Salad Recipe

Strawberry Arugula Salad

Toss wild arugula with a drizzle of lemon juice and olive oil. Arrange arugula on a plate, garnish with sliced strawberries, arugula flowers, crumbled cotija cheese. Season with salt and black pepper. (More about arugula flowers in my previous post here).

Composition

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

Gently re-warm the compote. Spoon compote on to plate next to strawberry arugula salad. Place chicken on top of the compote. Garnish with an American flag!

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

Enjoy a red, white and blue patriotic meal on the Fourth of July!

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

Inspiration for this recipe came from Sunset magazine.

Forever in Peace May You Wave

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

Turtle Rock

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

“The American Revolution was not simply a rebellion against the King of England, it was a rebellion against being ruled by kings in general. That is why the opening salvo of the American Revolution was called the shot heard round the world.”
Thomas Sowell

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, IN CONGRESS July 4, 1776.

“There is no rational reason why a small republican experiment in 1776 grew to dominate global culture and society — except that America is the only nation, past or present, that put trust in the individual rather than in the state and its elite bureaucracy. Such confidence in the average free citizen made America absolutely exceptional.”
Victor Davis Hanson

“It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance; it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
John Adams

E Pluribus Unum – Latin for From Many, One. Composed of people of every religious, racial, ethnic, cultural and national origin, America’s original national motto describes the action of many people uniting into one people – Americans.

On this day, 238 years ago, we chose to become the United States of America, a free nation, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This is what we proudly celebrate……from sea to shining sea.

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

Food Network

featuring

Fourth of July Theme!

Summer Soiree is a season long franchise where Food Network editors team up with bloggers to share recipes about everyone’s favorite summer dishes. Be sure to check out the Pinterest Board with over 185,000 followers called Let’s Pull Up A Chair!

And if this Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad got you in the mood for all things red, white and blue – you might enjoy taking a peek at other 4th of July recipes from some fabulous bloggers below…

Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad

The Heritage Cook: Firecracker Salad
Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Brazilian Acai Breakfast Bowl
Weelicious: Magical Fruit Wands
Sweet Bake Life: Patriotic Moscato Gelatin Shots
Virtually Homemade: Traditional Potato Salad
Dishing With Divya: Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad
Feed Me Phoebe: Red, White and Blue Coconut Panna Cotta Cups
Domesticate Me: 12 Foolproof Recipes for the Fourth of July
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Grilled Bruschetta with Pesto, Sauteed Spinach and Garlic Scapes
Red or Green: Popcorn with Jalapenos and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Mini Cherry Blueberry Pies
Devour: Star Sweets for the 4th
Swing Eats: Corn Dogs (Gluten-Free)
Daily*Dishin: Dilly Potato Salad
FN Dish: 4th of July Treats

7 thoughts on “Patriotic Grilled Chicken, Savory Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Arugula Salad”

  1. A very special post composed in your inimitable style. Thank you!! I just wish we all could get closer to ‘forever in peace’ . . .

  2. I rather chuckled at the idea of a patriotic chicken, but this does look wonderful! Cumin is a great spice and anything grilled will get my mouth watering. Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday weekend.

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