Simple Roasted Chicken

Name: Simple Roasted Chicken
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoons virgin olive oil; 1 chicken , 2½ to 3 pounds; Kosher salt and cracked black pepper; 6 to 8 sprigs fresh herbs; 3 cloves garlic , peeled; 1 small onion , cut into medium dice; 2 medium carrots , peeled and cut into medium dice; 2 Stalks celery , cut into medium dice; ½ teaspoon herbes de Provence; 2 cups Chicken Stock or low-salt canned chicken broth; 2 teaspoons butter; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; ½ teaspoon chopped tarragon, savory, chives, or rosemary (optional); Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes; Rosemary Polenta; Sweet-Potato Puree; Wild Rice with Pine Nuts; The Best Creamed Spinach; Confit Bayaldi; Eggplant Provençal in Roasted Tomatoes

Chef

Debra Ponzek

View

Cookbook

French Food, American Accent

Published by Clarkson Potter

View

This image courtesy of Joseph DeLeo

Brushed with a mixture of olive oil and butter, stuffed with fresh herbs and garlic, and roasted on a bed of aromatic vegetables, this chicken has crisp, golden skin and juicy meat. The easy-to-prepare pan sauce is slightly thickened and full of herbal and chicken flavor.

NotesIt is easiest to carve a chicken for 2, with equal portions of light and dark meat, but this size chicken yields meat for 3.

Order of preparation:

• Dice the vegetables.

• Roast the chicken.

• Remove the chicken from the oven and let rest.

• While the chicken is resting, prepare the pan sauce.

Make-ahead note:

• The diced vegetables can be refrigerated up to 2 days.

Makes2 or 3 servings

Cooking Methodroasting

CostModerate

Total Timeunder 2 hours

Kid FriendlyYes

OccasionCasual Dinner Party, Family Get-together

Recipe Coursemain course

Dietary Considerationegg-free, gluten-free, peanut free, soy free, tree nut free

Equipmentelectric mixer

Mealdinner

Moodblue

Taste and Texturebuttery, crisp, herby, juicy, meaty

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons virgin olive oil
1 chicken, 2½ to 3 pounds
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper
6 to 8 sprigs fresh herbs
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 small onion, cut into medium dice
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into medium dice
2 Stalks celery, cut into medium dice
½ teaspoon herbes de Provence
2 cups Chicken Stock or low-salt canned chicken broth
2 teaspoons butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon chopped tarragon, savory, chives, or rosemary (optional)
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Rosemary Polenta
Sweet-Potato Puree
Wild Rice with Pine Nuts
The Best Creamed Spinach
Confit Bayaldi
Eggplant Provençal in Roasted Tomatoes

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 475°F. In a small pot over medium-low heat, melt together the butter and olive oil.
Rinse the chicken well and pat dry with paper towels. Season the cavity with salt and pepper and stuff with the fresh herbs and garlic cloves.
Arrange the diced vegetables in an even layer on the bottom of a roasting pan just big enough to accommodate the chicken (13 by 9 by 2 inches). Place the chicken breast-side up on top of the vegetables and brush with the butter mixture. Sprinkle on all sides with salt and pepper and herbes de Provence.
Roast 15 minutes, then turn the chicken on its side, brush with the butter mixture, and roast 10 minutes. Turn, brush, and roast on the other side, about 8 minutes.
Reduce the oven to 400°F. Turn the chicken breast-side up and roast 18 to 20 minutes more, basting 2 or 3 times with pan juices and butter; the juices should run clear when the chicken is pierced at the junction of the leg and thigh. Remove from the pan and let rest 5 minutes before carving.
For the pan sauce:
Spoon or pour off the grease from the roasting pan. Place the pan over high heat, add the stock, and cook, scraping up the cooked-on bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil and reduce to one third of its original volume. Whisk in the butter. Season to taste and stir in the optional herbs.
To serve, carve the chicken and serve with the pan sauce.
Variations:
Use fresh rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, or any other herbs you prefer.
If desired, strip the leaves from a sprig of rosemary and sprinkle over the chicken before roasting.