Crockpot Roasted Chicken Poulet Roti A Recipe Inspired By Che

CROCKPOT ROASTED CHICKEN (POULET ROTI - A RECIPE INSPIRED BY CHE

Steps:

• Put the onions in the bottom of your crockpot.
• Mix together the herbs and spices, rubbing them together with your fingers to blend.
• Gently lift the skin from either side of the breast and using your fingers, push a bit of the herb mix under each side.
• Turn the chicken over and make a small slit behind each thigh and push some of the herb mix under the thigh skin.
• Sprinkle the rest of the herb mixture over the top of the chicken and if you have any left sprinkle it inside the chicken.
• Put your chicken into the crockpot, on top of the onions, breast side up. No liquid is needed, the chicken will make it's own juices!
• Cook in the crockpot on the low setting for 4-6 hours. My crockpot cooked the chicken in about 5 hours. I'd recommend a pop-up timer in the chicken because some crock pots cook faster/slower than others.

DJEDJ MECHOUI (ALGERIAN POULET ROTI/ROAST CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 450°F.
• Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and slide your fingers under the skin of the breast and thighs to loosen/separate it from the flesh.
• Mash the garlic with the salt, using a fork or a mortar and pestle.
• Work the garlic/salt paste into the butter and then work in the spices; using your fingers, spread the spiced butter into the cavities between the skin and the flesh of the chicken.
• Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the chicken; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Season the cavity with salt and pepper and place the four lemon halves and the thyme inside.
• Roast the chicken breast side down for 15 minutes.
• Turn the chicken breast side up and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Baste frequently, using additional water and olive oil as needed.
• If the skin begins to brown too soon, cover with foil (but remove the foil about 15 minutes before the roasting time is up).
• The chicken should be done in about 90 minutes; the skin between the breasts and the legs should become almost transparent, the legs should move easily in the socket, and any juices should be clear.
• Let rest before carving.
• Strain excess fat out of the cooking juices and squeeze in some lemon juice for a lovely flavor.
• Note: Zari suggests serving with orange salads dressed with pomegranate vinaigrette and carrot salads dressed with lemon, cumin and olive oil.

POULET RôTI (ROAST CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Rinse and pat chicken dry.
• If your chicken has a neck and giblets, put them in a small pot, cover with water and a little onion (dry onion or powder work too) and carrots if you have them and a little the same herbs used in the chicken, bring to a boil and then simmer for about an hour, strain this and use for your gravy for extra flavor - you can also cook in canned low sodium chicken broth, for more flavor.
• Mix together all your herbs and spices, rub together with your fingers or if you have a mortar and pestle, grind them a few times to blend.
• Gently lift the skin from either side of the breast and using your finger push some of the herb mix under each side.
• Turn over the chicken and make a small slit behind each thigh and push some herb mix under the thigh skin (this step is optional, but it makes the thighs extra tasty).
• Place you chicken in a roasting pan that has been sprayed or lightly oiled, if roasting a single chicken, a cast iron frying pan is perfect for this.
• If using the olive, rub or drizzle over the chicken then, rub or sprinkle extra herb mix all over the outside of the chicken (do this even without the oil, a little extra salt and pepper in the cavity is also a good thing.
• You have 2 options, #1 - turn the chicken breast side down on a rack that has also been sprayed or oiled, half way through cooking turn breast up; #2 - cook the entire time breast up, the breast skin usually tears for me so I do #2, but #1 can make the breast meat a little moister.
• Roast for 1- 11/2 hours or until chicken register 180 degrees on your meat thermometer (if you use a larger chicken adjust time accordingly), be sure and poke a thick part of the chicken meat and don't get too near the bone. Length of time will vary with chicken size.
• Check chicken at an hour, herbs and spice on top are getting too dark loosely tent top with a piece of foil (spray first).
• When done, place chicken on platter and let rest for 5- 10 minutes while you make the gravy. Drain off excess fat and make your gravy.
• NOTE: Some people like to tie the legs together with kitchen twine, it does look nicer but I never bother.
• I've been know to roast chicken anywhere from 375-450 degrees, 400- 425 is my norm, I decide what to use based on my schedule of when I need to put it in the oven. Lower temp mean slightly longer cooking time.

POULET ROTI WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Wash the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels.
• Save the neck and gizzards, except for the liver.
• Salt and pepper the chicken evenly and sprinkle salt and pepper in the cavity.
• Soak the dried porcini in 2 cups of very hot water for 20 minute Drain them, saving the soaking water.
• Saute the mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of the butter for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Fill the cavity of the chicken with the sauteed mushrooms.
• Truss the chicken and rub it with 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Place the chicken, breast side down, in a heavy, shallow casserole and roast for about 20 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees, turn the chicken on its side and roast another 15 minutes.
• Turn the chicken on its other side, roast another fifteen minutes, then turn the chicken breast side up, and finsh roasting for a total of about 1 1/4 hours ( skin should be golden and crisp, leg should move easily in its socket, and any juices should run clear)basting often (at least each time you turn it).
• Meanwhile, put the gizzards and neck in a small pot with 1/2 cup water and the mushroom liquid, strained through a fine sieve.
• Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes until the liquid is reduced to 1 1/4 cups.
• Pour the liquid through a strainer and discard the gizzards and neck.
• Remove chicken from the oven, untruss, and put on a platter.
• Scoop the mushrooms out of the chicken and put them in the roasting pan with the reduced mushroom juices and the port if you are using it. Reduce by one third.
• Add salt and pepper to taste and whisk in 2 tablespoons cold butter until the sauce emulsifies.
• Cut the chicken as desired and cover with the wild mushroom sauce.

POULET ROTI (ROAST CHICKEN) FOR THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the thyme, rosemary, minced garlic, pepper, salt and olive oil. With your hands, completely cover the chicken with the herb mixture. Get your fingers under the skin on the breast and add it there too.
• Roll up 3 or 4 pieces of tin foil into 3" balls and place in the bottom of the crock pot. Place chicken on top of foil balls and set crock pot to low. This ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and the juice drips off. Cook for 5 - 6 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Remove chicken from pot and place in an ovenproof dish. Place chicken under the broiler in the oven until the skin is nicely browned. Remove from oven and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour all juices from the crock pot into a small saucepan. Add enough chicken stock to make approximately 2 cups total.
• Mix cornstarch into cold water and whisk together. Pour cornstarch mixture into the drippings and whisk well. Turn burner heat to medium and, stirring occasionally, bring to a low boil and remove from heat. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Cut chicken and serve with gravy.