GRAVY FOR CHICKEN BREAST RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Have a shelf ready in the middle of the oven without any shelves above it.
• Scatter 1 roughly chopped onion and 2 roughly chopped carrots over the base of a roasting tin that fits the whole 1 ½ kg chicken, but doesn’t swamp it.
• Season the cavity of the chicken liberally with salt and pepper, then stuff with 2 lemon halves and a small bunch of thyme, if using.
• Sit the chicken on the vegetables, smother the breast and legs all over with 25g softened butter, then season the outside with salt and pepper.
• Place in the oven and leave, undisturbed, for 1 hr 20 mins – this will give you a perfectly roasted chicken. To check, pierce the thigh with a skewer and the juices should run clear.
• Carefully remove the tin from the oven and, using a pair of tongs, lift the chicken to a dish or board to rest for 15-20 mins. As you lift the dish, let any juices from the chicken pour out of the cavity into the roasting tin.
• While the chicken is resting, make the gravy. Place the roasting tin over a low flame, then stir in 1 tbsp flour and sizzle until you have a light brown, sandy paste.
• Gradually pour in 250ml chicken stock, stirring all the time, until you have a thickened sauce.
• Simmer for 2 mins, using a wooden spoon to stir, scraping any sticky bits from the tin.
• Strain the gravy into a small saucepan, then simmer and season to taste. When you carve the bird, add any extra juices to the gravy.

Steps:

• Combine flour and pepper in a ziplock bag.
• Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and add to flour mixture.
• After all chicken is in the bag, close bag and shake to coat chicken pieces.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium low heat.
• Slowly brown both sides of chicken in the melted butter. Note: If your skillet isn't large enough, you can do this in batches, it may require additional butter.
• Remove chicken and set aside in a baking dish.
• Cook onion in same pan until soft (if using onion powder, skip this step).
• Add a small amount (approximately 2-3 tablespoons) of the flour/pepper mixture to the water.
• Mix well.
• Pour water and flour mixture slowly into the pan.
• Add chicken broth and thyme (if using onion powder, add it now) and bring to a simmer. Stir often to make a thickish gravy.
• Return browned chicken pieces to the pan.
• Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring periodically.
• Transfer chicken and gravy into baking dish. I use a 2.8 liter Corning Ware dish, but a 9x13 dish will work as well.
• Cover and bake at 375 for 30 minutes.
• Note: This dish freezes beautifully. After cooking for the first 30 minutes, cool, place in a freezer bag. When you are ready to cook, defrost and cook, covered at 375 for 45-60 minutes or until hot and bubbly.