Spiced Capon With Pomegranate Glaze Recipes

GOLDEN OVEN-ROASTED CAPON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity and rinse the chicken under cold water, inside and out. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Season the body and cavity of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together the butter, lemon juice and chopped herbs. Rub the herbed butter all over the chicken. Put the lemon halves, onion, garlic and whole herbs inside the bird. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to help hold its shape.
• Place the chicken, breast side down, on a V-rack in a roasting pan. Cooking the chicken on a rack helps make its skin crisp and keeps it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Pour water in the roasting pan to prevent the fat drippings from burning and smoking.
• Roast the chicken for about 20 minutes, then carefully turn the bird over breast side up. It is best to take the pan out of the oven, close the oven door to maintain the temperature, and rotate the chicken on the counter. Baste the chicken all over with the pan drippings. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees F and return the pan to the oven. Continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees to 170 degrees F, count on this taking about 2 hours. Remove the chicken to a platter and let stand for 15 minutes so the juices settle back into the meat before carving.
• Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a gravy separator or measuring cup to let the fat rise to the top. Skim and discard the fat then return the pan juices back in the roasting pan. Place the roasting pan on top of the stove over medium heat. Add the sherry and deglaze, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper, and serve with chicken.

SPICED POMEGRANATE & ORANGE GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Put the gammon in a large pan with the bay leaves, star anise, cloves, 6 allspice berries and 8 peppercorns. Pour over the pomegranate juice to cover the gammon (you may need to top up with water). Add one of the orange halves, then bring to a simmer and partially cover with a lid. Cook for 2 hrs 30 mins, topping up with water as needed to keep the gammon covered. Leave to cool in the liquid for 20 mins, then lift out and place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the skin off the gammon, leaving a 1cm layer of fat. Score lines into the fat at ½cm intervals using knife. Bake for 15 mins until the fat is starting to crisp.
• Meanwhile, crush the remaining allspice berries and peppercorns with a pestle and mortar. Combine the crushed spices with the molasses, mustard, sugar and 1 tsp orange juice. Remove the gammon from the oven and brush over the molasses mixture. Arrange the orange slices over the gammon, securing them with some cloves.
• Turn the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and return the gammon to the oven for another 20 mins. Brush the honey over the orange slices and bake for another 5-10 mins, or until the glaze is bubbling. Leave to rest for at least 20 mins, then serve with bay leaves and pomegranate seeds scattered over, if you like.

POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, simmer juice & sugar until reduced to 1.5c, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk in mustard. Whisk in butter until melted & smoooooth.
• Stir in optional pomegranate seeds.

POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Place the orange juice, brandy, and honey in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to a simmer, add vinegar, and cook for 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut pomegranates in half. Hold pomegranate halves over a large bowl and beat each one with the back of a wooden spoon to release seeds and juices. Place 2/3 pomegranate seeds and any accumulated juices, thyme, and chicken stock in the jar of a blender; blend for 10 seconds. Strain pomegranate mixture through a fine sieve into saucepan.
• Return glaze to a simmer. Stir in butter. Spoon over duck and garnish with remaining pomegranate seeds.

SPICED POMEGRANATE SYRUP

Steps:

• Combine the pomegranate juice, wine, and lemon juice in a bowl. Whisk in the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Crumble in half of the brown sugar and whisk mixture until sugar dissolves.
• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat and swirl to coat the pan. Immediately pour in the juice/spice mixture and increase the heat to high. Bring mixture to a boil while whisking to prevent scorching. Reduce heat to medium and, while stirring, add the remaining brown sugar a little at a time. Cook and stir until mixture thickens to a syrupy consistency or when it can coat the back of a spoon.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly and continue to cool, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir and serve.