Solar Braised Chicken And Root Vegetables Food

HERB-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH ROOT VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Pat the chickens dry inside and out. Generously season the skin and cavity of each with salt and pepper. Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 4 hours and up to overnight to dry out the skin.
• Let the chickens stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mash the butter with the chopped thyme and rosemary in a small bowl. Gently slide your fingers under the skin on the breasts and legs of each chicken to loosen . Scoop some of the herbed butter with a spoon, slide the spoon under the skin on one chicken and hold the skin in place while you remove the spoon. Smooth the skin to distribute the butter; repeat with more butter if needed. Repeat with the second chicken and remaining herbed butter.
• Squeeze the juice of a lemon half into the cavity of each chicken, then stuff the lemon half inside. Stuff 3 cloves garlic, 1/2 onion, 1 thyme sprig and 1/2 rosemary sprig into each chicken cavity. Tie the legs together with twine. Put the chickens on a baking sheet next to each other.
• Toss the parsnip, potato, squash, olive oil and a large pinch of salt in a bowl, then add the vegetables to the baking sheet, scattering them around the chickens. Roast until the chickens are golden brown and a instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F, about 1 hour. Transfer the chicken and vegetables to platters and let rest about 10 minutes before carving.

BRAISED AND ROASTED CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350. Put the chicken fat in a roasting pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Sprinkle the leg quarters with salt and pepper and add them to the pan, flesh side down. Cook, turning and rotating the pieces as necessary, until well browned on both sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove, then add the breast halves, skin side down. Brown them well, then flip and cook for just 1 minute or so; remove to a separate plate.
• Put the leeks, carrots, celery, mushrooms, herbs and chicken-wing meat in the same pan and cook until the vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Nestle the leg quarters among the vegetables, meaty side up. Add enough of the stock to come about halfway up the thighs. (The amount will depend on the breadth of your pan; add a little water if necessary.)
• Put the pan in the oven and cook, uncovered, for about 1 hour, checking occasionally and stirring the vegetables if they threaten to brown too much. When the thigh meat is tender, raise the heat to 400 and lay the breast halves on the vegetables, skin side up. Continue cooking until they are done, 20 to 30 minutes longer.
• Transfer the vegetables to a platter. You can serve one of two ways: slice the breasts and shred the leg-and-thigh meat and lay the meat on top of the vegetables; or cut the leg-thigh pieces in half, cut the breasts in half and give each person a little of each. Garnish with reserved chopped celery leaves.

BONE BROTH-BRAISED TURMERIC CHICKEN WITH VEGGIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with the coriander, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Heat a braiser or large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat until melted and shimmering. Add the chicken to the pan, skin-side down. Sear until the skin is deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove to a plate. Stir the carrots into the pan and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shallot, garlic, ginger and turmeric and cook until fragrant, about 30 more seconds. Add the cauliflower and raisins and stir together. Pour in about 1/2 cup bone broth and scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Pour in the remaining broth and the honey. Nestle the chicken back into the pan skin-side up. Bring to a boil, then place in the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through and the cauliflower is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with the cilantro and serve immediately.