Strathearn Roasted Chicken Food

BASIC ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the inside of the chickens liberally with salt and pepper. Stuff each bird with 3 sprigs thyme, 2 cloves garlic, the bay leaf, onion and lemon. As the chickens cook, this will help keep them moist and also flavor the bird from the inside.
• Using kitchen twine, tie the legs together of each bird, and then tuck the wing tips underneath each body so it cooks evenly. Place the birds on a roasting rack over a roasting tray then sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
• Place in the oven and roast for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 375 degrees F and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the joint between the leg and thigh registers 165 degrees F, approximately 1 hour more. When the chicken is done, the skin will be crispy and golden and the juices of the chicken will run clear. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before serving.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH MELTED CHEESE AND GRAVY

Steps:

• For the compound butter: To a small bowl, add the oregano, thyme, lemon zest, butter and some salt and pepper.
• For the roast chicken: Generously rub the outside of the chicken with half of the compound butter, then stuff the cavity with half of the oregano, thyme, lemon and onions. Place the remaining onions and the carrots and celery in the bottom of a roasting pan. Use the rest of the compound butter under the skin of the chicken breasts and legs. Sprinkle the salt and pepper all over the chicken. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables in the pan. Cover with foil and roast for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and roast until the internal temperature at the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the roasting pan from the oven and place on the cooktop. Transfer the chicken to a platter, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Once rested, remove the stuffing and discard. Shred the chicken, it should yield about 4 cups of shredded chicken.
• For the pan gravy: In the roasting pan over medium-high heat, add the flour and stir to combine with the roasting juices. Deglaze with the stock and white wine. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any of the brown bits on the bottom. Simmer over medium heat. Once the pan sauce reduces by half, remove from the heat. Finish seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the cold butter cubes to the gravy and swirl until melted.
• Raise the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Fill the crepes, one at a time with 2 tablespoons each of chicken and Monterrey Jack cheese. Roll one edge of crepe over the filling then tuck in the sides and continue to roll over so it is seam-side down. Place 5 to 6 crepes in an 8- by 8-inch baking dish with seam-side facing down and cover with more cheese. Place in the oven to melt the cheese, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven, transfer to a plate and ladle the pan gravy over the top.
• Whisk the flour, milk, melted butter, salt and eggs together, making sure to remove lumps. Allow to rest for at least 30 minutes.
• Place an 8-inch nonstick or crepe pan over medium-high heat and brush lightly with the reserved butter. Spoon 3 tablespoons of the batter into the pan, tilting to evenly coat. Cook until golden brown and flip, 25 to 35 seconds. Transfer to a plate, covering loosely with a kitchen towel and keep warm.

CAST IRON TANDOORI ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the marinade: Toast the coriander seeds in a small skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garam masala, paprika, turmeric, cayenne pepper and cinnamon and warm through to make fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour everything into a spice grinder and process until fine. (Alternatively, crush the spices with a mortar and pestle.)
• Place the guajillo chiles in a bowl, cover with hot water and let soak for 10 minutes. Drain the chiles and finely chop. Combine the spices with the chiles, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger and salt in a in a large bowl. Stir well to combine.
• Using a meat tenderizer, pound the chicken to a 1/2-inch thickness in between two pieces of plastic wrap. Place the chicken breasts in a large resealable freezer bag. Pour in the marinade and toss to coat well. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight if you have the time.
• Heat the charcoal in the charcoal chimney. To closely replicate a traditional tandoor clay oven cooking environment, set two large cast iron skillets (about 12 inches each) over high heat until hot, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade. Thread a skewer into each chicken piece so the chicken lies flat.
• Very carefully remove the skillets from the heat and add a layer of charcoal to one of the skillets. Working in batches, place the skewers over the coals in the skillet so they rest on the rim and the chicken is above the coals. Carefully cover the chicken with the second pan, making sure the skewers don't slip. Cook, turning once, until the chicken is bright red and charred and blackened around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the skewers, place them on a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Serve with warm flatbread and raita.
• Combine the yogurt, whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and process until the dough is smooth. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• Divide the dough into 6 equal portions. On a floured surface, using your hands or a rolling pin, flatten each piece of dough into a large oval, about 6-inches in length. Oil the grill grate. In batches, grill the flatbreads until puffy and charred around the edges, 2 to 3 minutes per side. (Alternatively cook in a pizza oven or on a pizza stone for 4 to 5 minutes.) Hold the flatbreads on a plate under a warm towel as you cook the rest.
• Combine the butter with the garlic and remaining 1 tablespoon minced parsley and 1 teaspoon salt. Brush the hot flatbreads with the butter mixture.
• Combine the yogurt, cucumber, basil, mint, cilantro, agave syrup, cumin, garlic and salt in a food processor and pulse just enough to break down the cucumber and herbs slightly (the raita should still have texture). Do not overmix or the raita will become too runny.
• Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to come together and for the raita to firm and settle.

RED ROCKER MARGARITA CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl add jalapenos, cilantro, tequila, garlic, red chili flakes, cumin, oregano, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken breasts and red bell peppers to resealable gallon bag and pour in marinade. Let marinate in refrigerator for 4 to 8 hours.
• Heat grill to high. Remove chicken from marinade, and add chicken to the grill.
• In a small mixing bowl add flour, remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the granulated garlic.
• Heat the canola oil to 350 degrees F.
• Remove bell peppers from marinade and dredge in flour and fry until crispy. When done drain on paper towels.
• Cook chicken thoroughly on both sides, remove from heat and cover. Let sit for 5 minutes Remove chicken from the bone and thinly slice or shred.
• Lightly toast rolls. Spread mayonnaise evenly among the rolls and then stack evenly with the cabbage, onion, chicken breast, fried peppers, and top with cheese.

PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare sauce: Heat oven to 475 degrees. Toss tomatoes, olives, capers, and 2 tablespoons oil together in a bowl.
• Sear chicken: Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add remaining tablespoon oil and heat until hot but not smoking. Place chicken in skillet, skin side down, and cook until deep golden brown, about 4 minutes. Use tongs to flip chicken, then add tomato mixture to skillet.
• Roast: Transfer skillet to oven and roast chicken until cooked through and tomatoes have softened, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Serve: Transfer everything to a platter, or divide chicken among plates and spoon some tomato mixture over the top.

ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Let the chicken and 1 tablespoon butter stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Remove and discard the plastic pop-up timer from the chicken if there is one. Remove giblets and excess fat from the chicken cavity. Rinse chicken inside and out under cold running water. Dry chicken thoroughly with paper towels. Tuck wing tips under the body. Sprinkle the cavity of the chicken liberally with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Using the palm of your hand, roll the lemon back and forth while pressing down. Pierce the entire surface of the lemon with a fork. Insert crushed garlic, thyme, and lemon into chicken's cavity. Gently loosen the skin from both sides of the breast, being careful to not tear the skin; place sliced garlic and tarragon under skin. Place chicken, breast-side up, on the bed of onion slices. Bring the legs forward, cross them, and tie them together using about 18 inches of kitchen twine.
• Spread softened butter over entire surface of chicken, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Place in oven, and roast until skin is deep golden-brown and juices run clear when pierced, about 1 1/2 hours. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the breast, which will read 180 degrees when done, and then the deepest part of the thigh, which will read 190 degrees. Be careful to not touch any bones with the thermometer, which will give you a false reading.
• Remove chicken from oven, and transfer to a cutting board with a well. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes so juices will settle. Meanwhile, pour pan drippings into a shallow bowl or a fat separator, leaving the onions in the pan. Using a large spoon or fat separator, skim off and discard as much fat as possible. Pour remaining drippings and any juices that have collected under the chicken back into the roasting pan. Place pan on stove, over medium-high heat, and cook for about 1 minute. Add chicken stock, increasing heat to high, and using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits; cook, stirring, until the liquid is reduced by half, about 4 minutes.
• Strain gravy into a small bowl, pressing down on onions to extract any remaining liquid. Discard onions, and stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter until melted and incorporated. Untie the legs, and remove and discard the lemon, garlic, and herbs from the cavity of the chicken and underneath the skin on the breast.
• Carve the chicken on the same cutting board using a sharp knife and a large fork. To remove the legs, pull one away from the body; use the knife to find the joint that connects the leg to the body, and sever it. Cut the thigh away from the drumstick at the second joint. To remove the breasts, cut straight down between the breasts, following the contour of the rib cage, until you hit the wishbone. Cut through the joint where it meets the breastbone. Arrange pieces on a serving platter, and serve immediately with gravy.