Herb Crumbed Roasted Chicken With Watercress Recipes

HERB-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pat the chicken dry; generously season the skin and inside the cavity with salt and pepper. Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 4 hours or overnight to dry out the skin. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before roasting.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Mash the butter with the chopped thyme and chopped rosemary in a small bowl. Gently slide your fingers under the chicken skin on the breasts and legs to loosen it. Scoop some of the herbed butter with a spoon; slide the spoon under the skin and hold the skin in place while you remove the spoon. Smooth the skin to distribute the butter. Repeat with the remaining butter.
• Squeeze a lemon half into the cavity of each chicken, then stuff the lemon half inside. Stuff 1/2 onion, 3 garlic cloves, 1 thyme sprig and 1/2 rosemary sprig into each chicken cavity. Tie the legs together with twine. Set a rack in a large roasting pan; put the chicken on the rack and roast 25 minutes. Toss the scallions, tomatoes, olive oil and a large pinch of salt in a bowl, then add to the roasting pan. Remove the twine from the chicken and continue roasting until the skin is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 170 degrees F, about 50 more minutes.
• Transfer the chicken and vegetables to platters and let rest about 10 minutes before carving.

HERB ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the chopped rosemary, sage, garlic, red pepper flakes and olive oil. Season generously with salt. Using your fingertips carefully work your way under the skin of the chickens to separate the skin from the breast to develop a pocket. Schmear the herb paste under the skin of both chickens. Use all of the paste and try to distribute evenly. Drizzle each chicken with more olive oil and massage the skin. The idea here is to lube them up like suntan lotion. This will really help to get a nice brown crispy skin. Sprinkle each chicken generously with salt. Truss each chicken.
• Place the diced veggies, bay leaves and thyme bundle in a roasting pan large enough to accommodate the 2 chickens without touching. Usually a 9 by 13-inch roasting pan will be perfect. Add 2 cups of chicken stock and season generously with salt. Arrange the chickens on top of the veggies in the roasting pan and place in the preheated oven.
• Check the chickens about 15 minutes into the cooking process, the skin should be starting to turn a lovely brown. Lower the heat to 375 degrees F and continue roasting. After another 15 minutes, remove the chickens from the oven and turn over. At this point check the level of liquid in the roasting pan. If most of the liquid has evaporated, add another cup of stock and return the chickens to the oven. When the chickens have browned on the bottom, about 15 minutes, remove them from the oven and turn them back over. Return the chickens to the oven for the final 15 minutes of cooking. During this time the skin on the chickens should be very brown and crispy. Remove the chickens from the oven and take the temperature in the crease between the thigh and the breast. (When doing this be sure not to have the thermometer probe touch a bone or you will get an inaccurate reading.) The thermometer should read between 160 and 170 degrees F. When cooking poultry in general the rule is 17 minutes per pound. If the thermometer reads less than 160 degrees F return the chicken to the oven for an additional 10 minutes and then re-check the temperature.
• When chickens have reached the proper temp remove them from the roasting pan, place them on a warm platter and cover loosely with foil. Let sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
• After the chickens have been removed from the roasting pan, skim off the excess fat from the surface of the liquid. The easiest way to do this is to prop up 1 end of the pan and allow the fat to run to the other end of the pan. You may not be able to get all of the fat, which is ok-fat tastes good! Put the roasting pan on a burner, add the wine, bring to a medium heat and reduce by half. Add the remaining chicken stock and taste. Add salt if needed- you probably will need salt. At this point you can decide if you are a "strainer" or not a strainer, meaning if you would like to strain the chunky vegetables out of the sauce or not. I myself, am not a strainer. When the sauce has reached the desired consistency and flavor remove from the heat and pour into desired serving vessel.
• To carve the chickens: Cut off the twine. Pull the thigh and leg away from the breast of the chicken until the thigh bone "pops" out of the socket. This is also a sign that the chicken is cooked properly. Separate the thigh and drumstick. Remove the breast from the carcass by feeling for the ridge of the breastbone in the center of the chicken and slicing around the rib cage. Arrange the chicken on a serving platter or on individual plates with the mashed potatoes and gravy

BAKED HERB-CRUSTED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Using meat mallet, pound chicken breasts between sheets of plastic wrap to 1/2- 3/4 inch thickness.
• Arrange chicken in 15 X 10 X 2 inch glass baking dish.
• Pour lemon juice over.
• Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Remove chicken from dish and pat dry with paper towels.
• Preheat oven to 450.
• Melt butter with oil in small saucepan over medium heat; cool slightly.
• Mix breadcrumbs, basil, parsley, rosemary, salt and pepper in pie dish.
• Brush chicken breasts on both sides with with melted butter mixture.
• Coat chicken on both sides with breadcrumb mixture.
• Place chicken on baking sheet.
• Bake, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through and breadcrumbs are golden, about 20 minutes.
• (Test to make sure) Transfer to plates and dress with lemon wedges.

HERB-ROASTED CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Season chicken inside and out with salt and pepper and place in a roasting pan. Stuff thyme and parsley in cavity. In a large bowl, toss leeks, carrots, and potatoes with oil; season with salt and pepper. Scatter vegetables around chicken, arranging potatoes at edges of pan; pour wine into pan. Roast until chicken is golden brown and juices run clear when pierced between breast and leg (an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of a thigh, avoiding bone, should read 165 degrees), about 1 hour.

CRISPY HERB BAKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease or line with foil a baking sheet or a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine potato flakes, Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt. Stir until well mixed.
• Dip chicken pieces into melted butter or margarine, and roll in potato flake mixture to coat. Place in prepared pan.
• Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until chicken is tender and golden brown.

HERB-CRUMBED ROASTED CHICKEN WITH WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Place the buttermilk in a large, shallow dish. Add the chicken pieces and turn to coat. Cover and let stand for 1 hour. In a shallow dish, combine the bread crumbs, rosemary, thyme, parsley, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 2 baking sheets lightly with the olive oil. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk and coat each piece with flour. Dip each piece back into the buttermilk and then coat with the bread-crumb mixture.
• Place the chicken on the baking sheets, spacing pieces as far apart as possible. Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the crust is crisp, about 45 minutes.
• In a large saucepan heated over medium heat, toss the watercress until just wilted. Add the lemon juice, olive oil, remaining salt and pepper to taste. Divide the chicken and the watercress among 4 plates and serve immediately.

BAKED CHICKEN WITH HERB CRUMBS

Steps:

• Cut off the wing tips of both chickens and set aside with the necks and gizzards (these can be wrapped and frozen for use in stock or soup). Holding one chicken on its side, cut through the backbone beginning at the neck end with a sharp knife. Spread the chicken open, lay it bone side down on the table, and press it against the table with your hands to flatten it. Pull off the skin; it should come off easily except, perhaps, around the wings. Remove what you can. Repeat with the other chicken.
• Place the two chickens flesh side up on a jellyroll pan and rub with 1 tablespoon of the oil and the Tabasco. Sprinkle with salt. Cover and refrigerate until cooking time.
• Prepare the herb coating. Put the bread slices in the bowl of a food processor and process until they are crumbs. Chop the fresh thyme and fresh oregano in a food processor or by hand with a sharp knife. Combine the bread crumbs; the chopped thyme, oregano and parsley; the black pepper, and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Toss gently to coat the bread crumbs lightly with the oil.
• When ready to cook, preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Pat the herb coating lightly over the surface of the chickens. Place in oven and bake 30 to 35 minutes until the crumbs are nicely browned. Remove and let sit for 10 minutes. Cut into pieces and serve.

HERB ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375*F (190*C) Rinse the chicken under cold water, drain and pat dry with paper towels.
• Season inside and out with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, mix together the sage, thyme, oregano, rosemary, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper.
• Using your fingers, loosen the skin of the chicken that covers the breast by sliding your fingers between the skin and the flesh, being careful not to tear the skin.
• Slip half of the herbs inside the pocket defined by each breast half, distributing them evenly over the breast and thigh.
• Tuck the lemon slices inside the pockest between the skin and flesh, placing 2 slices on each side.
• Truss the chicken by tying the legs together with kitchen string.
• Brush the chicken with the melted butter.
• Place the chicken on it's side on an oiled roasting rack in a roasting pan.
• Roast for 20 minutes.
• Turn the chicken onto it's other side and roast for another 20 minutes.
• Turn the chicken breast side up and continue to roast until the juices run clear when pierced in the thigh.
• 15 to 20 minutes longer.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to a platter.
• Cover loosely with aluminum foil and let stand for 10 minutes before carving.

BUTTERY HERB ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from chicken; rub 1/4 cup butter under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks. Place chicken on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. Tuck wings under chicken; tie drumsticks together. Pour broth around chicken., Melt remaining 1/4 cup butter; brush over chicken. Drizzle with orange juice and wine. Combine garlic, salt and pepper; rub over skin. Place rosemary, thyme and sage in roasting pan. , Roast until thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, 1-1/2 to 2 hours (Cover loosely with foil if chicken browns too quickly.) Remove chicken from oven; tent with foil. Let stand 15 minutes before carving; remove toothpicks. If desired, skim fat and thicken pan drippings for gravy. Serve with chicken.