BUTTER GRAVY RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a small bowl, mash the butter with one-third of the thyme leaves, the mashed garlic and the juice of half a lemon. Mix everything together with some seasoning and set aside.
• Use your hand to loosen the chicken skin away from the breast, then push most of the butter mix into the gap. Rub the rest of the butter all over the outside of the chicken, then stuff the cavity with the lemon halves, remaining thyme leaves and stalks, and the garlic.
• Scatter the chopped carrot, onion and bay leaves over the base of a small roasting tin. Sit the chicken on top, breast-side up, and roast on the middle shelf for 1 hr 30 mins, basting with the buttery juices after about 40 mins. When the chicken is dark golden, crispy-skinned and the juices run clear, remove from the oven and leave in the tin for 5 mins. Use a pair of tongs to pull the lemons, garlic and thyme out of the cavity and into the tin. Lift the chicken up, letting any juices dribble into the tin, and transfer the chicken to a serving platter to rest for at least another 15 mins.
• To make the gravy, squeeze the juice out of the cooked lemon halves and discard the skins. Place the tin on a low heat, stir in flour and sizzle until light brown. Gradually pour in the stock and cook for a few mins. If you like a darker gravy, add a splash of soy sauce to the tin. Strain the gravy into a jug and serve with the chicken.

Steps:

• This works great as a stand-alone recipe, but also as a component in Jamie’s Celebration Roast from Together – see the full collection of menus here. GET AHEAD Trim and wash the leek, carrot and celery, peel the onion, then roughly chop it all and place in a large non-stick pan on a medium-high heat. Dry-fry for 15 minutes, or until softened and dark golden, stirring regularly and adding splashes of water to prevent it sticking, if needed. Meanwhile, crumble the stock cube into a jug with the porcini and rosemary, then cover with 500ml of boiling kettle water and leave aside to infuse. Stir the butter, chestnuts and paprika into the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, then add the wine, balsamic and jelly. Let the liquid cook away, cool slightly, then tip the contents of the pan into a blender. Pour in the porcini and the stock, discarding just the last gritty bit and the rosemary, add 500ml of water and blitz until very smooth – in batches, if needed. Season to perfection, tasting and tweaking, then cool, cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. TO SERVE Simply reheat the gravy in a pan, or, for bonus flavour, use your tray of roasting juices from the Epic mixed roast, loosening with splashes of water, if needed.