Sunday Herb Roasted Chicken

 

Sunday Herb Roasted Chicken

Yes, we love slow oven roasted chicken and I do it several ways and over 2013 you will see several ways to cook it. As for today it was a simple herb crusted whole chicken. Here are the ingredients that you will need.

1 - 4 to 5lb Organic hormone/antibiotic free chicken
1 - fresh poultry herb bunch (rosemary, thyme, sage)
2 TBSP of unsalted butter (melted in microwave for 35 seconds)
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp each granulated garlic and granulated onion

 



Chop herbs to give you about 2 Tbsp worth and add it to the melted butter. Add the granulated garlic and onion and salt to the melted butter and place in the freezer for 5 minutes. You should be left with a still saucy butter mix but almost gel consistancy.

Run the handle of a wooden spoon under the skin of the chicken to seperate the skin from the meat.

Then take the butter mixture and run underneathe the skin and over the skin. This will make a nice herb crust on the outside and the meat with absorb a lot of flavor from the mix as well. Salt the cavity well and truss the bird with kitchen string for even cooking. use an oven thermometer and place in between the thigh and breast.
 

 Preheat the oven to 450 degrees then place the bird in a roaster pan with a cut up large onion and 1 cup of chicken stock. I also took a part of the onion and and some stems of rosemary, thyme and sage and stuffed the cavity of the bird.

Roast the bird at 450 for 30 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350. Roast until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees for the thigh and about 175 for the breast. Pull the bird and let sit on the counter with a foil tent for 15 to 20 minutes. This will make the bird nice and juicy. Carve and enjoy!

I baked a sweet potato added a 1/2 TBSP unsalted butter and 1/2 tbsp of maple agave syrup a pinch of salt and pepper and mashed it up with no skin. We split it and had about 3 oz of mash each. Which is about a 1/2 cup. we also took 1 piece of bacon from breakfast chopped it up and added it as a garnish to the sweet potato. only 22 calories added.
Total calories for the dish with 5oz of chicken was only 370 calories, with a glass of red wine it was 492. added a small salad for another 150 and you have a great flavorful and filling meal which leaves room for a little snack later! We are using the left overs for white bean chicken chili for tomorrow.

Eating right doesn't have to be bland food or nasty frozen dinners. You can do this yourself and make wonderful flavorful dishes. Yes I use butter, cream, salt and plenty of fresh produce etc and you can have incredible tasting dishing that are restaurant worthy! Try it out you will like it.