Judhaba Al Tamr Clay Oven Chicken Food

JUDHABA AL TAMR: CLAY OVEN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Boil dates until they are soft and mushy, drain and mash. Remove any pits.
• Cut bread into bite-size pieces, and soak in water until the bread is thoroughly sodden. Drain gently.
• Mix the soaked bread with the mashed dates, honey, sesame oil, spices and walnuts (if using them).
• Line the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with pita or tortillas.
• Take a tomato can or other similarly sized can, remove top and bottom, and place it in the middle of the pan. Add the bread mixture to the pan, placing it around the can. Add water to the bread mixture to make sure it is thoroughly wet.
• Cover the top of the bread mixture with pita or tortillas. If they don't fit, they can be torn to appropriately sized pieces.
• Balance the chicken on top of the can.
• Bake in clay oven until the chicken is just done.
• Remove the chicken. Remove the top pita or tortilla and break into pieces. Empty any juices that have accumulated in the pan into the bread pudding.

CLAY OVEN-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Soak clay oven in water to cover for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Place lemon in chicken cavity. Tuck wings under, and tie legs together with string, if desired. Place chicken in clay pot, breast side up, and sprinkle with tarragon. Cover with lid.
• Place in a COLD oven. Turn oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and bake 1 hour. Uncover and bake 15 more minutes or until meat thermometer inserted into chicken thigh registers 180 degrees.

CHICKEN WITH 40 CLOVES OF GARLIC IN A CLAY POT

Steps:

• Soak top and bottom of 3 1/4 quart clay cooker in water about 15 minutes; drain.
• Line bottom and sides of cooker with parchment paper.
• Combine olive oil, garlic and herbs in cooker.
• Rinse and pat dry chicken reserving neck and giblets for other use.
• Place chicken over garlic mixture.
• Drizzle with lemon juice.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place covered cooker in COLD oven.
• Set oven at 475 degrees F.
• Bake until chicken is tender and juices run clear when thigh is pierced, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Remove cover; bake until chicken is crisp and brown.
• 5 to 10 minutes.
• Carve chicken and spoon cooking liquid over chicken.
• Serve with garlic and french bread.

RESTAURANT-STYLE TANDOORI CHICKEN IN THE OVEN!

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, stir together the yogurt and lemon juice. Add the spices, minced garlic, and chili paste, and whisk until you have a smooth, thick marinade.
• Put 6 pieces of the chicken in each of two zip-lock bags, and add 1/2 the marinade to each bag. Zip closed and knead the bags until the chicken is well-coated with marinade. Open bags slightly, squeeze out most of the air, and zip closed again. Refrigerate 12-24 hours. If serving this for dinner, I usually make the marinade and start the chicken soaking the evening before.
• Turn the bags and knead the marinating chicken once or twice while it's in the refrigerator.
• When you are ready to cook, take the chicken out of the refrigerator, line a large roasting pan with foil, lay a rack over the pan so air can circulate under the roasting chicken, and pre-heat your oven to 425. If you have a convection bake or convection roast cycle, use that.
• Place the chicken pieces on the rack so they are not touching. Empty what is left of the marinade into a bowl or measuring cup and touch up any "empty" spots on the chicken pieces with the marinade.
• Once the oven is hot, put the pan with the chicken in the oven, and leave the door closed (no peeking!). Turn the chicken pieces once after 30 minutes of cooking time, then roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until slightly charred on the second side, but no more than 15 minutes for legs and thighs. If you are cooking breasts, poke one with a skewer to make sure the juices run clear.
• NOW TURN THE OVEN OFF, and let the chicken rest in the closed oven for 20-30 minutes more (not critical, but NO PEEKING!).
• Remove the chicken to a warm platter, garnish with the onion rings and a few squeezes of lemon, and enjoy!
• See if you don't agree this is as good as any "authentic" Tandoori chicken you've ever tried!