Salt Crust Chicken Recipes

SALT CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, combine the salt and water and stir until you have "wet sand." Set aside.
• Using a sharp pair of kitchen shears, cut the backbone out of the chicken. (This is called "Spatchcocking" and allows the chicken to cook more evenly.)
• Spread a small amount (1-2 handfuls) out on the parchment paper, and place the chicken on top, laying flat.
• Pile the rest of the salt mixture on top. Pat it down like you're building a sandcastle, making sure it's completely coated, there are no holes, and no spots of skin peeking through. You're trying to achieve an even coating.
• Bake in the oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven, and using a knife or mallet, break open the 'crust' the salt has formed over the chicken and discard. Use a pastry brush to brush off any loose salt.
• Peel the skin off the chicken to reveal the juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked meat underneath. The skin will be very salty, but the meat underneath will not be.
• Serve immediately.

SALT CRUST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the olives, capers, thyme, garlic, bell peppers, onion, orange zest, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl. Whisk in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream. The salsa can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
• Heat an horno (similar to an outdoor bread oven) or home oven (with the rack positioned in the lower third of the oven) to approximately 500°F (260°C).
• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Put the thyme, garlic, and bay leaves in the cavity and truss with kitchen twine.
• Empty the salt into the sink (or a large basin or bucket if working outdoors). Pour 2 cups of water over the salt and, using your hands, toss to combine. Add more water as needed, a cup or two at a time, tossing until the mixture has the consistency of damp snow.
• Make a 1-inch-deep bed of salt in a roasting pan and tamp it down. Place the chicken in the center. Stick the probe of a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. Cover the chicken completely with the remaining salt, tamping it down to make a salt crust so that it is completely encased.
• Transfer the chicken to the oven and roast for 35 to 40 minutes; the internal temperature of the thigh should read 175°F (79°C). Spread newspapers on the counter next to the sink. Remove the pan from the oven, place on the newspaper, and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. The internal temperature will rise to about 185°F (85°C).
• Crack the salt crust with a rolling pin or mallet, lift off the pieces, and discard them. With a pastry brush, brush the remaining salt away from the chicken. Carefully pull off the skin from the breasts and legs. Slice off the chicken breasts from the bone and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Slice the meat from the legs and thighs.
• Arrange the meat on a warm platter and spoon the salsa over the chicken.

CARDAMOM CHICKEN WITH SALT AND PEPPER CRUST

Steps:

• Place the garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey and cardamom in a resealable plastic bag. Place chicken thighs in the bag, and squeeze to coat. Press out most of the air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Remove the chicken from the marinade, and discard the marinade. Place chicken on a broiling pan or baking sheet. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Roast in the oven for 40 minutes, or until chicken is browned and crisp, and cooked through.

SALT-CRUST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat an horno or home oven (with the rack positioned in the lower third of the oven) to approximately 500°F.
• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Put the thyme, garlic, and bay leaves in the cavity and truss with kitchen twine.
• Empty the salt into the sink (or a large basin or bucket if working outdoors). Pour 2 cups of water over the salt and, using your hands, toss to combine. Add more water as needed, a cup or two at a time, tossing until the mixture has the consistency of damp snow.
• Make a 1-inch-deep bed of salt in a roasting pan and tamp it down. Place the chicken in the center. Stick the probe of a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. Cover the chicken completely with the remaining salt, tamping it down so that it is completely encased.
• Transfer the chicken to the oven and roast for 35 to 40 minutes; the internal temperature of the thigh should read 175°F. Spread newspapers on the counter next to the sink. Remove the pan from the oven, place on the newspaper, and let rest for 10 minutes (the internal temperature will rise to about 185°F).
• Crack the salt crust with a rolling pin or mallet, lift off the pieces, and discard them. With a pastry brush, brush the remaining salt away from the chicken. Carefully pull off the skin from the breasts and legs. Slice off the breasts from the bone and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Slice the meat from the legs and thighs.
• Arrange the meat on a warm platter and spoon the salsa over the chicken.

CHICKEN IN SALT CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet large enough to hold the two chickens
• Stuff each chicken with 3 garlic cloves, 2 sprigs, rosemary, 2 sprigs thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon crushed peppercorns. Truss the chickens with kitchen twine. In a small bowl, combine the mustard, chopped thyme, chopped tarragon, and parsley. Using a pastry brush, brush the mustard mixture all over the chickens. Place the chickens, breast sides up, on the prepared baking sheet.
• Divide the dough in half. According to the directions in the Salt Crust Dough recipe, roll out each portion as thinly as possible. Wrap each chicken completely with dough.
• Bake until the dough is browned and rock-hard, about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Using a hammer or the back of a heavy knife, crack open the crust and remove the chicken, brushing off any clinging crust with a clean kitchen towel. Cut each chicken in half lengthwise. Serve immediately on warmed plates

CRISPY SALT CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH ROASTED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Salt Crusted Chicken.
• Toss the chicken thighs together with thyme, shallots, salt and peppercorns in a large bowl. Place a wire rack over a roasting tray. Arrange the chicken and the garlic on top of a roasting rack. Place in the fridge overnight or for a minimum of 2-3 hours.
• Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C/350°F Drain the roasting tray of any chicken juice that has been extracted by the salting process.
• Pour about a cup of water into the roasting tray.
• Rub the chicken thighs with butter. Scatter on top the shallots and the garlic from the marinade. Place the rack with the chicken back on top of the roasting tray. Dust the chicken thighs with paprika and place in the oven to roast until the skin is crispy and the chicken thighs are done.
• Roasted Garlic Aioli.
• Meanwhile, make your mayonnaise by whisking the egg yolks with the juice of 1 lemon and a pinch of salt. While whisking, slowly incorporate the oil into the egg yolk mixture until you get a smooth, thick texture.
• When the chicken is cooked, remove the roasted garlic and squeeze the soft centre into the mayo and whisk to blend.
• To serve.
• To serve divide the shallots and chicken between your plates. Dress the rocket with the sherry vinegar and scatter over the chicken. Dollop with the roasted garlic mayo.

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.

WHOLE ROASTED CHICKEN IN SALT CRUST

Steps:

• Preparations.
• Brush chicken on all sides with balsamic vinegar. In small bowl, combine butter, chopped shallots, garlic/Morton® Kosher Salt mixture*, orange zest and pepper. Spread mixture over chicken. Lightly pat to evenly coat chicken. Place the chicken on oiled rack in foil lined roasting pan. Fill chicken cavity with sliced shallots and orange pieces. Sprinkle top of chicken with 1/4 cup Morton® Kosher Salt.
• Cooking.
• Roast uncovered at 425°F for 50 to 60 minutes or until juices run clear and chicken is cooked through and . (**iInternal temperature reaches 170°F for /white meat and 180°F for /dark meat**). Let rest 10 minutes; remove and discard salt crust. Cut into serving pieces. Serve with roasted potatoes.
• Tips:
• *Sprinkle 1 teaspoon Morton Kosher Salt over garlic cloves. Chop garlic with Morton® Kosher Salt until minced. Proceed with remaining spices as above. ·.

SALT-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a 15x11" roasting pan with foil, if desired. Stuff herbs into chicken cavity; tie legs loosely together. Tuck wing tips under.
• Place salt and egg whites in a large bowl. Use your hands to blend well, kneading to soften slightly, about 4 minutes. Pack 1/3 of salt mixture onto bottom of pan. Place chicken on top. Pack remaining salt mixture over and around chicken to completely enclose.
• Roast until a thermometer registers 165°F when inserted through the salt crust into thickest part of thigh, about 70 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes. Crack salt with the back of a knife or wooden spoon. Remove salt and skin from chicken; transfer meat to a work surface. Carve and serve.