Jans Roasted Chicken Recipes

JONATHAN WAXMAN'S ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Wash the chicken in hot water and dry with paper towels. Using kitchen shears, cut out the backbone of the chicken and remove any fat. Then, using a heavy chef's knife, cut out the breastbone. Season the two halves with sea salt and fresh black pepper. Dab an earthenware or metal baking dish with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and place the chicken halves inside it, skin side up. Sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Cut the lemon in half and place the halves, cut side down, next to the chicken in the baking dish. Roast for 35 minutes, basting every 8 minutes. Rotate the pan during basting to allow for even cooking. The chicken is done when the juices from the thigh run clear (about 165 degrees).
• Meanwhile, make the salsa verde. Rinse capers in cold water, then drain. Soak anchovies in cold water for 5 minutes, then pat dry and remove the bones. Using a mortar and pestle (or a small mixer if you are in a hurry), smash the capers, anchovies and garlic with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Add all the herbs and remaining olive oil. (The mixture should be chunky, not oily.) Season with sea salt. Serve the chicken topped with the salsa verde, and garnish with the roasted lemon.

CHEF JOHN'S SALT ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Dry the outside of chicken with paper towels. Tuck the wing tips underneath the chicken and place into a large oven-safe skillet. Use scissors to snip off the tail, if desired.
• Generously sprinkle kosher salt into the cavity and over the back and sides of chicken. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen twine. Sprinkle salt generously over the breasts, coating them thoroughly. Wipe excess salt out of skillet with paper towels.
• Bake chicken in the preheated oven until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into a thigh, not touching bone, reads 160 degrees C (70 degrees C), 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from skillet to a serving platter and let rest 5 to 10 minutes.
• Blot about 90 percent of the chicken fat from the skillet with a paper towel held with tongs, leaving the browned bits of food in the skillet. Place skillet over medium-high heat and add thyme leaves. Cook and stir until thyme is wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour lemon juice, chicken broth, and water into skillet, stirring until the browned bits dissolve and the sauce has reduced by about half, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low, add cold butter, and stir until butter has begun to melt. Add any accumulated juices from the chicken to sauce and continue to stir until butter is incorporated and sauce is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over chicken to serve.

JAN BIRNBAUM'S ROASTED CHICKEN ON SUMMER GREENS WITH CORN

Steps:

• To make the marinade, combine the vinegars, lemon juice, garlic, shallots, and tarragon. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and bacon fat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Coat chicken inside and out with 1 cup of the marinade and refrigerate, covered, overnight. Reserve the remaining marinade for the vinaigrette.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard marinade. Season chicken inside and out with 1 1/2 tablespoons seasoning mix. Mix the stuffing ingredients, and stuff it into the chicken. Truss the chicken and roast for 40 minutes. Turn the oven off and allow the bird to continue to cook in the oven for about 20 more minutes.
• Season the rice flour with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon seasoning mix. Toss the oysters in the flour and shake off the excess. Heat the oil in a shallow saute pan. Brown the oysters in the fat, about 1 minute on each side. Drain on paper towels and immediately season with salt.
• Put the butter into a small skillet over medium heat and saute the corn for about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the piquillo peppers, green onions, parsley and reserved marinade to make the vinaigrette. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Toss the greens with a few tablespoons of the vinaigrette. Top the greens with chicken, oysters, and the remaining vinaigrette. Serve and enjoy.
• Blend seasoning mix ingredients. Set aside.

JAN'S ROASTED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 220c/400f or Gas mark 7.
• Mix together in a small dish the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar, a squirt of tomato puree, a good grinding of black pepper the oregano and a small pinch of salt. (Sounds horrid - I haven't gone mad, trust me, it'll be nice)!
• Slice the courgettes into 1cm slices 4. De-seed and cut the peppers into 3cm chunks.
• Cut the onions into quarters.
• Cut the aubergine into rough 3 - 4cm chunks.
• Now, put all the prepared vegetables into a 'largish' mixing bowl pour on the olive oil mixture and stir until all vegetables are covered.
• Spread out onto a pre-heated baking tray and cook on the middle shelf of a pre-heated oven for about 25 - 35 minutes turning half way.

JAN'S ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Rub chicken and cavities with 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic cloves, salt, and pepper.
• Tuck chicken wings under; tie legs together with string, if desired. Pour remaining 1 tablespoon oil into a large cast-iron skillet; place chicken, breast side up, in skillet.
• Place 1 rosemary sprig and 2 lemon quarters into neck cavity of chicken; repeat in lower cavity. Place remaining rosemary sprig underneath skin.
• Bake at 450° for 30 minutes; reduce heat to 350°, and bake 1 hour. Serve with Jan's Roasted Potatoes.