Garlic-infused roast chicken extravaganza
Serve the cooked whole garlic cloves with the chicken so that guests can squeeze the softened garlic out of the skins as a rich and tasty accompaniment
Servings: 6 people
Equipment
- A lidded flame-proof casserole dish, large enough to hold the chicken
Ingredients
- 1.8 kg/4 lb free-range chicken
- 25 g/1½ tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 40 garlic cloves separated but unpeeled
- 100 ml/1/3 cup vermouth or dry white wine
- Freshly squeezed juice of ½ lemon
- 200 ml/1 cup good-quality chicken stock
- A handful of fresh tarragon sprigs
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) Gas 4.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the chicken and brown on all sides. Save the pan juices.
- Meanwhile, heat the casserole dish on the hob. Transfer the browned chicken to the casserole dish. Tuck some of the garlic cloves into the cavity, sprinkle the rest around the chicken and pour over the vermouth or wine. Allow to sizzle briefly, then pour in the buttery juices from the frying pan, the lemon juice and stock. Add the tarragon, placing a few sprigs inside the cavity.
- Bring to the boil on the hob, then cover with the lid and transfer the casserole to the preheated oven. Bake, covered for 1 hour 20 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear.
- Transfer the chicken to a serving dish. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the garlic cloves to the dish. Pour the juices into a serving jug to use as a gravy, skimming off any excess fat. Serve the chicken with the garlic cloves and gravy.