Season Types: Spring

Pollo al mattone is the Italian name for a chicken that’s pressed under bricks to speed up cooking and create a very crisp skin. Traditionally made in a cast-iron skillet, this version is hot off the grill. Either a whole butterflied chicken or chicken halves work beautifully. The zesty marinade makes the most of those later summer herbs that overrun the garden.

This herb paste used to flavor the chicken can be slathered on just before popping it onto the grill. Otherwise, try gently loosening the bird’s skin with your fingers, then rubbing the paste directly onto the meat under the skin. This combination of seasonings is called charmoula—sort of a North African pesto.

This recipe elegantly feeds a nice-sized dinner party, but is easy to cut in half for a smaller supper. The sweetness of the dried plums (formerly known as prunes), contrasts with the brininess of the olives and capers—delicious with the richness of bone-in chicken.

Squeeze a few chunks of fresh lime or lemon over the finished bird and fruit. Complete the meal with a pan of quick-cooking orzo pasta tossed with some crumbled feta cheese and a bowl full of fresh arugula dressed in a vinaigrette.

Wrapping up food to make it deliciously portable (or easily eaten out of hand) is a long-held tradition—globally. The saltiness of nori melds well with the mild flavor of poached and shredded chicken. The warm rice or cooked grains softens the crisp sheets so you can roll them up.