Crispy Roast Chicken With Riesling Grapes And Tarragon Food

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN WITH RIESLING, GRAPES AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 8, 230°C or 450°F.
• First of all, the chicken and the grapes need to be at room temperature, so remove them from the fridge about an hour (half an hour on a hot day) before cooking. Snip off the strings and open out the chicken.
• Reserve four sprigs of tarragon for later, then strip off the leaves and chop them, reserving a tablespoonful. Now cut the grapes in half and finely chop the shallot. Next, in a bowl, combine the shallots, chopped tarragon and about two-thirds of the grapes, then place the whole lot inside the body cavity of the chicken.
• Then season the chicken with salt and pepper and place it in a roasting tin into the lower third of the oven and roast for 1 hour - without opening the door. (Because ovens vary, test the thickest part of the chicken with a skewer and if the juices run clear, it's cooked. If not, give it another 5-10 minutes.).
• What you now need to do is spoon out the grape stuffing and keep on one side. Then put a wooden spoon into the cavity and, using a spatula to hold the breast end, tip the chicken and let all the juices run out into the roasting tin. Transfer the chicken to a carving board and leave in a warm place to rest for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the tin over direct heat, add the wine and let the whole lot bubble and reduce by half - this will take about 5-6 minutes. Then whisk in the creme fraiche, add the stuffing and the rest of the grapes, and let it gently bubble for another 8 minutes. Finally add the reserved chopped tarragon, carve the chicken, spoon the sauce over and garnish with sprigs of tarragon.
• Notes on ingredients: For a 1.76kg chicken it will take an extra 10 minutes and may smoke a little because of the extra fat content but it's nothing to worry about.

CHICKEN WITH RIESLING AND GRAPES

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the butter and the oil over moderately high heat until the foam subsides, in the fat brown the chicken on all sides for 8 minutes, or until it is golden, and transfer it with tongs to a plate. Reduce the heat to moderately low and in the fat remaining in the skillet cook the shallot and the garlic for 3 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook the roux, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the Riesling and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the broth, the lemon juice, the thyme, and salt and pepper to taste and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring. Return the chicken to the skillet with any juices that have accumulated on the plate and simmer the mixture, covered, for 15 minutes. Add the grapes and simmer the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put beaten egg in one plate, and mixture of the dry ingredients in another.
• Roll chicken first in the egg, then in the breadcrumb mixture.
• Cook covered for an hour, uncovered for half an hour at about 180C.

TOPSY TURVY CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN WITH SALT CRUST SEASONING

Steps:

• Mix all the seasoning mix ingredients together and store in a jar until needed.
• Remove all the wrapping from the chicken and snip the elasticated string that ties the chicken together. Wipe the chicken all over with kitchen paper to dry the skin. Sprinkle a good amount of rock salt over, making sure that you cover all the chicken. Now chill overnight or for at least 8 hours so the salt can draw out any excess moisture.
• Preheat the oven to 190C, 375F or gas mark 5.
• Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking, brush and shake off the excess rock salt.
• Place the chicken in the roasting tin and season inside the cavity. Push the lemon and onion inside with the herbs. These will produce steam and flavour, to keep the chicken moist. Brush the chicken all over with melted butter or olive oil, then season liberally with the rest of the seasoning mix. (The salt makes the skin crispy and the butter will keep the chicken moist.).
• Roast the chicken, breast side up, in the centre of the oven for 1 hour, then carefully remove the chicken, and with two roasting forks to aid you, turn the chicken over, so the breast is underneath now. Continue to cook for a further 30 minutes. Then take the chicken out and turn it over once more, with the breast side up now, and continue to roast for a further 15 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
• To check that it is cooked, pierce the fattest part of the thigh with a fine skewer. If the juices are pink or show traces of blood, cook the chicken a further 10-15 minutes, then check again. If the juices are pale golden, the chicken is cooked.
• Using two forks, lift the chicken from the roasting tin onto a large plate and reserve the cooking juices. Leave for 10 minutes before carving. This allows the juices, which have risen to the surface during cooking, to be reabsorbed into the meat to give a moist texture.
• Cook's tips.
• How to make Gravy.
• Drain all but 3 tbsp of the juices from the roasting tin. Set the roasting tin on a hob and reheat the juices. Sprinkle in 2 tsp of plain flour and stir well with a wooden spoon. Gradually stir in 300ml chicken stock. Bring to the boil, stirring until thickened and smooth. Season well. If the gravy is bland, add a little mustard and a splash of soy sauce. For a special gravy, some of the stock can be replaced with red or white wine.
• Carving the Chicken.
• Hold the chicken steady with a fork, then insert a large sharp knife between the body and leg. Cut off the leg. Divide the leg in half at the joint to give a drumstick and thigh portion. Cut away the wing on the same side. Carve down the breast in thick slices. Repeat on the other side of the chicken.

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Line roasting pan with foil.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position.
• Place roasting pan on rack and heat oven to 475 degrees.
• Coat V rack with cooking spray.
• Combine cornstarch and 2 teaspoons salt in small mixing bowl.
• Poke holes all over chicken skin, using skewer.
• Rub cornstarch mixture evenly over chicken.
• Remove roasting pan from oven.
• Place chicken in V-rack, wing side down.
• Roast for 15 minutes.
• Remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that other wing is facing up.
• Roast another 15 minutes.
• Again remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that breast side is up.
• Roast chicken another 20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from oven and insert chicken on angelfood cake pan or empty soda can.
• Rest for 10 minutes.
• Carve chicken and serve.