For those folks with a more gentle constitution, there are brands of mezcal without a scorpion in the bottle.
The last time we used mezcal it was such a hit with our readers, we knew we’d just have to use it again. OK, maybe hit is a strong word. The comments included “weird” and “gross” and “seriously?” Fear not mezcal skeptics, tequila is an easy substitute here for those who like Chicago John “cannot in my wildest imagination ever see my buying anything with an arachnid in it.” We choose mezcal for its smokey qualities. Also, we like the subtle sting of preserved scorpion on our lips. This was also a great way to use up some lime beer that friends left over at the house.
Mezcal Lime Chicken
- Juice from four limes
- 8 ounces mezcal
- 8 ounces lime beer
- 1 jalapeno (preserved or fresh), cut in half
- 2-4 chicken breasts, deboned and skinned
- salt/pepper
Sprinkle salt and pepper on each chicken breasts. Place in a nonreactive dish and pour beer, mezcal, lime juice over the meat. Place the pepper halves and as many lime halves as will fit in the dish. Marinate in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes, but preferably two to four hours. Grill. Serve on warm tortillas with grilled vegetables and cilantro.
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide 
I’ve never dealt with mezcal.. so instead of being skeptical, I will research it and hopefully try it out. The chicken looks incredible.. and you know how I love a good chicken recipe 🙂
We have a post coming up that you will love then.
I will be looking for it, too!
I am a HUGE mezcal fan, so this sounds fabulous to me! I’d love to do with with some charred tomatoes too. And using tofu, of course. 🙂
LOL. I’m with Chicago John on this one, so I’ll be using tequila. 🙂
haha, was the lime beer that Bud Light stuff? Good idea using it for cooking. 🙂
I think so. Katherine’s been using it in cooking a lot. We won’t drink it.
Yeah, I wouldn’t drink it either!
Love your line about the subtle sting of preserved scorpion on your lips. It evokes a shiver.
Here is a website with a poster for sale for Mezcal and a big scorpion pictured. Worms are for Wimps. Cheers! http://www.scorpionmezcal.com/shop/index.php?main_page=products_all
How to make chicken interesting !!
This would sure have a “zing” to it! Tonight, if I were to make this, I think I would just drink all the Mezcal…
This sounds good — you’ve chosen all the right accompaniments (except for poor Chicago John).
this sounds really good! I will have to look out for lime beer now 🙂
Hmm, think I was away visiting with my folks when you posted about Mezcal the first time – my hubby still has a bottle of Tequila from a thousand years ago with a worm in it – wonder if he will be mad if I crack the seal to make this meal…
🙂 Mandy
Reminds me of my hippie days….toking away whilst absorbing the “wisdom” of Carlos Castaneda’s view on the effects of peyote and mescal! Sounds an interesting chicken dish.
Different type of Mezcal here.:)
I’d like this with chili and lime, I just went to a Mexican restaurant this evening and had my first beer with chili and lime on ice, fantastic
Loved the post and now I need to track down some mezcal (perhaps without spider or worm) to try it!
wow, you know how to get things going with a swing! I bet this is delicious.
I know this isn’t a humor blog, but I cracked up at “place in a nonreactive dish” just because.
Don’t laugh. One time we got a reactive one.
Subtle sting of preserved scorpion??? LOL.
Oh, I’d definitely buy the bottle with a scorpion at the bottom. I love drinking tequila more than beer and most wines!
Potent poultry.
This was interesting and new for me dear Rufus, I didn’t know them before, mezcal and maguey plant… Thank you so much, I learned something new, with my love, nia
“Para todo mal, mezcal, y para todo bien, también”
Mezcal for the bad times, Mezcal for the good times … They say, I read now. 🙂
Cool! How else would you know the ETOH is at the desired proof unless it had the extra little pickled guys at the bottom. Ole!
I was bitten pretty badly once by a scorpion, I think it would make me feel better to bite one back.
Love the chicken.
It sounds really delicious and the chicken looks so tender!
This looks wonderful! Definitely going in my summer grilling rotation! Off to find Mezcal!
Hilarious! I think I’m with John on this one… However, the chicken looks fabulous! Moist and delicious, yum!
‘the subtle sting of preserved scorpion on our lips’ – haha this made me smile this morning! I imagine this chicken is quite delicious, scorpion or no scorpion!
This looks like it made a very tasty, juicy chicken dish, and I can imagine the flavor of the smoky mescal (and scorpion) plus the beer and lime would be really outstanding. A pretty shot styled with the lime slices, too, and great way to show sliced chicken!
Mmmmmmmmm!!
Greg, this sounds amazing! I like the idea of the smokey taste of mescal, and i think maybe even the subtle sting of scorpion lingering on the lips! 🙂 funny, inventive and delicious! This gets pinned to try some sunny south-of-the-border night!
I’ll take a double order of the tequila version, thank you very much! It looks delicious but I just cannot get past that thing in the bottle. Worse yet, because of my urging, a number of my friends frequently check your blog. I hope they all skip today’s post or this will be a very mezcal Christmas around here — my own little Nightmare Before Christmas.
Be that as it may, thanks (kinda) for the mention. 🙂
You’re welcome! We’ll send you our address in December.
This is right up my alley. Absolutely love this idea!
Where’s the fun in Mezcal if it doesn’t have a worm or scorpion 😉
Great recipe!
Numb lips might have you really drooling with this chicken dish.
This looks delicious and super-fun. Would love to try it!
Sounds very fresh, fairly light and different. And quite a bit drunken as well. Always a win.
You can see why us readers get concerned, I mean what did you do with the rest of the bottle and how come you have friends who drink lime beer and what is lime beer anyway, all that aside, this is probably a very tasty chicken dish. c
They are no longer our friends!
Sounds crazy, but that plate does look awfully tasty.
Looks good but I never heard of lime beer either!
I’ve never seen mescal available in Australia, might be a quarantine thing in case the scorpion escaped? Tequila though sounds like a nice idea with the limey flavors – looks great!
This looks great. I would definitely grill some limes along with the chicken, and maybe even grill some extra jalapeños. Grilled limes and peppers are divine, and I suspect they would be great with this wonderful-looking dish.
Beautiful presentation as always. I can almost taste it!
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