Portuguese Style Roast Chicken Recipes

PORTUGUESE-STYLE ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan. Using kitchen scissors or poultry shears, cut down either side of the backbones of chickens and discard. Open out chickens and flatten, pressing with the heel of your hand.
• Rub chicken skin with cut lemon; reserve lemons. Combine oil, garlic, oregano, paprika, cayenne and salt, and rub into skin. Arrange chickens skin side up in a large baking dish and add reserved lemons.
• Roast for 45 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside to rest for 10 minutes, then carve into pieces. Drizzle with reserved pan juices to serve.

PORTUGUESE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place chicken on cutting board, breast-side down. Use a pair of poultry shears or heavy-duty kitchen scissors to cut along either side of the bird's backbone; remove. Turn the chicken over; use palms to press on breast bones to flatten the chicken. Using a sharp, heavy knife, cut the chicken between breast halves. The chicken will be in 2, flat pieces.
• Place an ovenproof cooling rack on a large rimmed baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice, garlic, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and pimento paste, then rub over the chicken. Transfer the chicken to a rack, then pour 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 cup wine over the chicken. Roast 30 minutes; turn the chicken over and pour the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1/2 cup wine over the chicken. Roast the chicken until golden, moist, and opaque throughout, about 30 minutes.

HOMEMADE PORTUGUESE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, paprika, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, chili powder, red pepper flakes, bay leaf, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until very smooth.
• Score chicken legs a few times using a knife and place in a resealable bag or a bowl. Pour about 1/3 cup of sauce over chicken and toss well. Season with additional sea salt. Cover or seal and marinate chicken in a refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight. Reserve remaining sauce for basting.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place chicken in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn chicken over and baste with extra marinade. Cover baking dish with foil once again and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 15 to 20 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near a bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).