Savory Roasted Capon With Spelt And Corn Salad Food

ROASTED CAPON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place the capon, breast-side up, in a large roasting pan and pat the outside dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the cavity generously with salt and pepper. Place the lemons and thyme inside the cavity. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wings under the body. Brush the capon with half of the melted butter, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Place the onions around the capon, pour the rest of the melted butter over the onions and sprinkle the onions with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Place the capon in the oven and roast for 1 1/2 hours, until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh.
• Remove the capon from the oven and cover the pan with aluminum foil. Allow the capon to rest for 20 minutes, then carve it and serve warm with the onions.

SPICED CAPON WITH POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ground fennel and paprika in a small bowl. Pat the capon dry with paper towels and place on a baking sheet. Rub the spiced oil all over the skin and inside the cavity. Season inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the garlic and lemons inside the cavity. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the capon from the refrigerator and uncover about 30 minutes before roasting. Whisk the pomegranate molasses and mustard in a small bowl; set aside. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Set a rack in a large roasting pan and brush with olive oil; add the chicken broth and onion to the pan. Put the capon on the rack breast-side down. Roast until the skin starts to brown and crisp, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the capon from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Insert a wooden spoon into the cavity of the capon and carefully turn it breast-side up. Baste with the pan drippings. Continue roasting, basting every 30 minutes, until the skin is browned and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about 1 1/2 hours to 1 hour 45 minutes. Brush with half of the pomegranate glaze during the last 15 minutes of roasting.
• Transfer the capon to a cutting board and brush with the remaining pomegranate glaze. Let rest 20 minutes before carving.
• Strain the pan juices into a fat separator. Pour the liquid into a gravy boat or small bowl, leaving any fat in the cup. (Alternatively, strain the pan juices into a glass measuring cup and skim off the fat with a spoon.) Carve the capon and serve with the pan juices.

ROASTED CAPON WITH QUINOA-OLIVE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Make the stuffing: Heat the olive oil in a wide saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, fennel chunks and 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook until slightly soft, about 7 minutes. Add the coriander and cumin and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the quinoa and broth and bring to a simmer; cover and cook over low heat until the quinoa is tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly, then add the scallions, dried apricots, pistachios, olives, parsley, orange zest and juice, fennel fronds, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Toss to combine.
• Prepare the capon: Season the inside of the bird with salt. Fill the cavity with the quinoa stuffing and tie the legs together. Place any extra stuffing in a small oiled baking dish, cover with foil and set aside. Brush the capon with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Mix the coriander, cumin and paprika in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture over the capon and season with salt.
• Pour 1 cup water in the bottom of a large roasting pan; place a rack in the pan. Place the capon on the rack, breast-side down, and roast about 30 minutes. Turn the bird breast-side up, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and roast until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Place the dish of extra stuffing in the oven about 15 minutes before the capon is done and cook 20 to 30 minutes. Let the capon rest about 15 minutes before carving.

TOMATO BACON CORN SALAD

Steps:

• In a wok or large skillet set over medium-high heat, add the bacon and cook, stirring, until it is very crisp, and the fat has rendered, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Pour the bacon fat out from the skillet until about 2 tablespoons remain. Return the pan to medium-high heat, add the shallots to the bacon fat, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the corn and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the corn begins to brown, about 6 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and chiles. Add the crispy bacon and fish sauce and remove from the heat. Then add the cilantro, lime juice and avocado. Gently toss to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm, chilled or at room temperature.

GOLDEN OVEN-ROASTED CAPON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity and rinse the chicken under cold water, inside and out. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Season the body and cavity of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together the butter, lemon juice and chopped herbs. Rub the herbed butter all over the chicken. Put the lemon halves, onion, garlic and whole herbs inside the bird. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to help hold its shape.
• Place the chicken, breast side down, on a V-rack in a roasting pan. Cooking the chicken on a rack helps make its skin crisp and keeps it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Pour water in the roasting pan to prevent the fat drippings from burning and smoking.
• Roast the chicken for about 20 minutes, then carefully turn the bird over breast side up. It is best to take the pan out of the oven, close the oven door to maintain the temperature, and rotate the chicken on the counter. Baste the chicken all over with the pan drippings. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees F and return the pan to the oven. Continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees to 170 degrees F, count on this taking about 2 hours. Remove the chicken to a platter and let stand for 15 minutes so the juices settle back into the meat before carving.
• Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a gravy separator or measuring cup to let the fat rise to the top. Skim and discard the fat then return the pan juices back in the roasting pan. Place the roasting pan on top of the stove over medium heat. Add the sherry and deglaze, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper, and serve with chicken.