Are you craving a delicious, healthy, and incredibly easy weeknight dinner? Look no further! This recipe, inspired by the legendary Mary Berry, delivers a succulent, flavorful roasted chicken with minimal cleanup. It's a perfect example of homemade cooking at its finest – simple, elegant, and bursting with fresh taste. This easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, but impressive enough for a family gathering. It's one of those quick dinner ideas that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen!
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken (about 1.5 kg/3.3 lbs), giblets removed
- 2 lemons, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 4 medium potatoes, quartered
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 onion, quartered
Instructions:
Getting Started:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan/Gas Mark 6). This ensures your chicken cooks evenly and the potatoes get perfectly crispy.
Preparing the Chicken:
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Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. This helps the skin crisp up beautifully.
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Place the lemon slices, rosemary, and thyme inside the chicken cavity. This infuses the chicken with incredible aromatic flavors.
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Rub the chicken skin with olive oil, then season generously with salt and pepper. The crushed garlic adds a subtle savory punch.
Roasting the Chicken and Vegetables:
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Place the potatoes, carrots, and onion around the chicken in a large roasting pan. This allows the vegetables to roast alongside the chicken, absorbing its delicious juices.
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Drizzle the vegetables with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
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Pour the lemon juice over the chicken and vegetables.
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Roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear when pierced with a fork. A meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 75°C (165°F).
Serving Suggestions:
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Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful bird.
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Serve the chicken with the roasted vegetables. This complete meal is a fantastic example of delicious dishes easily made at home.
Cooking Tips:
- For extra crispy skin, increase the oven temperature to 220°C (200°C fan/Gas Mark 7) for the last 15-20 minutes of cooking.
- If you don't have fresh herbs, you can use dried herbs instead. Use about 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for every tablespoon of fresh herbs.
- Feel free to add other vegetables to the roasting pan, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes.
Variations:
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the seasoning.
- Substitute other herbs, such as oregano or sage, for the rosemary and thyme.
- Add some chopped pancetta or bacon to the roasting pan for extra flavor.
Nutritional Information (per serving, approximate):
This will vary depending on the size of your chicken and the amount of vegetables used. However, this dish is generally considered a healthy meal, offering a good source of protein and fiber. For precise nutritional data, use a nutrition calculator and input the specific ingredients and quantities used.
This easy and delicious Mary Berry-inspired recipe is perfect for those looking for healthy meals and quick dinner ideas. It's a testament to the power of simple, fresh ingredients and straightforward cooking techniques, resulting in a dish that is both satisfying and impressive. Enjoy!