Roast Chicken With Lemon And Zaatar Food

ROAST CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND ZA'ATAR

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, stir together yogurt, zest and juice of 1 lemon, garlic and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season the chicken inside and out with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the bowl and coat with the yogurt mixture inside and out. Cover and refrigerate until cooking, up to 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Make the za'atar: In a small bowl, mix sesame seeds, sumac (if using), thyme, coriander, oregano, cumin and 1 tablespoon salt. Remove chicken from marinade and gently scrape off excess yogurt while leaving a nice coating. Transfer chicken to a sheet of parchment or wax paper. Coat chicken all over with the za'atar blend. Scrape up any spices that fall off and pack them on. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil and pat gently.
• Put 1 lemon half in the cavity of the bird. Tie legs together using butcher's twine, if desired, and place chicken in a small roasting pan. Arrange remaining 3 lemon halves and shallots cut-sides down in the pan surrounding the chicken. Add 1/4 cup water to the pan and roast on the middle rack for 30 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, gently baste the chicken and add another 1/4 cup water. Roast for an additional 60 to 75 minutes, rotating the pan periodically. Turn the lemon and shallots occasionally, basting once or twice and add 1/4 cup water whenever the pan juices dry out. Cook until until the legs wiggle easily and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
• Let chicken rest 10 to 15 minutes before carving. Pour the pan juices (add a few tablespoons of water first, if they are very reduced) into a small gravy boat, degreasing or skimming some fat, if desired. Serve the chicken with the juices and the roasted shallots.

OVEN-ROASTED ZA'ATAR CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Pound chicken breasts to a 1-inch thickness for even cooking. Place in a large resealable plastic bag.
• Combine 2 tablespoons za'atar seasoning, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Pour mixture over the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.
• Place chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with remaining za'atar seasoning.
• Roast in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 23 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Season with salt.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH LEMON, ZA'ATAR, AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Several hours or the night before cooking the chicken, remove giblets from the chicken and pat the skin dry. Cut the lemon in half, and place half inside the cavity. Slice the other half crosswise as thinly as you can into four slices and insert the slices under the skin, one under each breast half and one under the fattest part of each thigh. Rub the salt and za'atar into the skin, then truss the chicken and refrigerate it for several hours or overnight.
• Remove the chicken from the fridge to bring it up to room temperature before roasting. Preheat the oven to 475°F.
• Place an elevated roasting rack in a roasting pan. Toss the quartered potatoes with a small amount of olive oil and salt (maybe even a little more za'atar) and place them in the bottom of the roasting pan, arranging them around the rack. Place the chicken on the rack, breast-side-up. If you do not have an appropriate rack, improvise with wadded up aluminum foil, or place the chicken right on the potatoes.
• Roast the chicken for 30 minutes - the skin will turn golden and may start to blister. Remove from the oven and flip the chicken onto its breast. Turn the potatoes, put the pan back into the oven and roast for 15 minutes more, then remove the pan from the oven, turn the potatoes again if needed, and turn the chicken onto its back for 5-10 more minutes to crisp the skin. Carefully tilt the chicken so that the juices that have accumulated into the cavity run out into the pan - the chicken is done when the juice runs clear and has no trace of red.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and let rest for 15 minutes before carving.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH ZA'ATAR STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry. Remove the wings and reserve.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the bread, parsley, minced garlic, za'atar and lemon zest and toss with ¼ cup of the olive oil to coat evenly. Season the stuffing with salt and pepper. Season the cavity of the chicken with salt and pepper and fill with the stuffing. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Season the bird on the outside with salt and pepper and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Place the reserved chicken wings in the center of a roasting pan and set the chicken on top of the wings. Roast for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° and add the garlic cloves to the pan. Continue roasting for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when the leg is pierced. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before carving.
• 4. Place 2 slices each of breast and leg meat on each plate and spoon some of the stuffing alongside. Spoon some of the pan drippings over the chicken and serve immediately.