ROAST HERB CHICKEN RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°.
• Remove giblets and neck from chicken cavity; discard. Trim excess fat from chicken. Loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper inside body cavity. Squeeze lemon juice into body cavity; place lemon halves in body cavity. Combine softened butter, minced shallots, rosemary, and thyme, stirring with a fork until well blended. Combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl; rub salt mixture evenly under skin over breast and drumstick meat. Rub butter mixture evenly under skin over breast and drumstick meat. Tie ends of legs together with twine. Lift wing tips up and over back, and tuck under chicken.
• Place chicken, breast side up, on a rack coated with cooking spray; place rack in a roasting pan. Pour 3/4 cup water into roasting pan. Bake chicken at 450° for 1 hour or until a thermometer inserted in meaty part of thigh registers 160°. Remove chicken from pan; let stand, breast side down, 15 minutes. Remove skin; discard.
• Place a large zip-top plastic bag inside a 4-cup glass measure. Pour drippings through a sieve into bag; discard solids. Let drippings stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top). Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Drain drippings into a medium bowl, stopping before fat layer reaches opening; discard fat. Carve chicken; serve with drippings.

Steps:

• Combine herb leaves and garlic with a mortar and pestle or in a food processor, pouring in oil in a slow, steady stream. Stir in zest; season with pepper.
• Place chicken on a cutting board. Tuck wing tips under. Season cavity with salt and pepper. Place lemon halves and herb stems in cavity. Make two 1 1/2-inch slits in each leg and thigh. Loosen skin from breasts with your fingers. Rub paste all over chicken, into slits and under skin. Tie legs with kitchen twine. Refrigerate chicken, covered, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Let chicken stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Heat a large cast-iron skillet or roasting pan in oven 15 minutes. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Carefully place it in the skillet in the oven, breast side down. Roast 15 minutes. Turn chicken onto its side; roast 10 minutes. Turn onto other side; roast 10 minutes. Turn chicken onto its back; roast until golden brown and juices run clear or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 175 degrees. about 20 minutes.
• Lift chicken so that juices run into skillet; transfer chicken to a platter. Cover chicken loosely with foil; set aside. Pour off fat from skillet, leaving juices; discard fat. Heat juices over medium-high heat. Slowly add wine, stirring to loosen the browned bits. Bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Serve chicken with the pan sauce.