Free Range Roasted Chicken with Juniper and Herb
By
Garrison Wayne
@TheOrganizedChef
14
I offer this recipe as a fantastic way to roast a chicken. I highly recommend that you purchase a free range chicken. I adapted this recipe from a wonderful Italian Cookbook titled "The Villa Table", by Lorenza De' Medici. If it is still in print, I definitely recommend it for a very comprehensive and refined collection of great Italian recipes. The combination of herbs and flavors in this dish are surprisingly mellow. Your kitchen will have the most glorious aroma while the chicken slowly roasts to perfection. This is no "Slouch" of a chicken,.....I assure you!
Ingredients
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4-5 lbfree range chicken
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1 Tbsprosemary, fresh, chopped fine
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5-6 largefresh sage leaves, chopped fine
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2 Tbspdried juniper berries, crushed with mortar and pestle
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2 largegarlic cloves, finely minced
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1 1/4 tspkosher salt
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1/2 tspcoarse ground pepper
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6 Tbspolive oil
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1 largelemon, halved or quartered
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1/2 cdry white wine
How to Make Free Range Roasted Chicken with Juniper and Herb
- Wash chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
- Mix rosemary, sage, juniper berries, salt, pepper, and garlic in a small bowl.
- Use 2-3 Tablespoons of olive oil to coat both the inside and the outside of the chicken. Use 1/2 of the herb mix to season the inside of the chicken and the remaining half to season the outside of chicken.
- Place the lemon pieces inside the chicken cavity. Use kitchen twine to tie the chicken legs and the wings in place.
- Pour the remaining olive oil in a roasting pan or iron skillet and place the chicken on top breast up.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 hours. Turn and baste every 10 minutes or so after the first half hour.
- When done, remove from oven and keep warm until you serve sliced or quartered.
- Separate the fat from the drippings. reduce the drippings and deglaze pan with 1/2 cup dry white wine. Spoon over chicken pieces to serve.
