Auberge Roast Chicken Rillettes With Armagnac Thyme And Garlic Recipes

AUBERGE ROAST CHICKEN RILLETTES WITH ARMAGNAC, THYME AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6, 400°F (200°C).
• Begin by placing the chicken joints on a rack in a shallow roasting tin, pierce them with a skewer, sprinkle salt on the skins then place them on a high shelf of the oven and leave them for 1 hour to cook. Then remove them from the oven and drain off all the fat from the roasting tin into a bowl.
• Now place the chicken joints in a solid flameproof casserole or saucepan, and sprinkle in the thyme, mace, quatre epices, chopped shallots and garlic. Then use a pestle and mortar to crush the peppercorns coarsely, and add these as well.
• Next pour in the wine, bring everything up to simmering point, then turn the heat right down to the gentlest simmer possible and leave it like that for 2 hours.
• After that, pour off all the liquid into a bowl, stir in the armagnac and reserve it; have the terrine, loaf tin, or small ramekin dishes ready.
• Take a quarter of chicken, place it on a board, and simply strip away the skin and bones, which will part very easily from the flesh. Then, using either two forks or just your hands, shred the pieces of chicken flesh as finely as possible, and pack them into the terrine or ramekin dishes.
• When you have repeated this with the other chicken quarters, press all the shreds of meat down very firmly into the terrine or ramekins, then pour in all the cooking juices with the armagnac, (there's no need to strain them).
• Melt a little duck or goose fat and pour it over the top to seal the rillettes - it will solidify as it cools.
• Lastly, decorate the surface with the thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns - pressing into the duck or goose fat. Then as soon as it's cool put a lid on the terrine or cover with foil and place in the fridge until needed. You can make it well in advance as it will keep for about five to seven days.
• Serve with hot buttered triangles of toast and cornichons -- or a confit d'oignons -- and salad leaves!

ROAST CHICKEN WITH THYME, GARLIC AND BACON

Steps:

• Wash the chicken well, removing any excess fat pockets, and trimming the skin lightly if desired. Loosen the skin from the breast and leg meat carefully. Take out any innards trapped in the bones of the cavity and let fresh water clear it out. Dry the chicken well, all of you.
• Combine the thyme, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a bowl. Stir well, adding the lemon zest, and strained juice, if desired.
• Slather some of the mixture into the cavity of the chicken. Put in the chopped bacon.
• Massage the remainder, as deeply as possible, into the breast and leg meat, reaching deep into the drumstick, and around the thighs.
• Tie the chicken legs. If any of the skin tears along the seam of the breast, tape it back together with toothpicks.
• Fit a roasting pan with a rack and add broth to a level that will not touch the chicken.
• Lay in the hen, breast side down and roast at 350 for 40-50 minutes.
• Retrieve the chicken from the oven, turn, breast side up. Continue roasting at 350 until done, and the breast registers 165 degrees in the thickest part. Make sure to take its temperature periodically, I find that people have other things to do and let the chicken cook lazily, thinking that it is never going to be done, and then go to check it, to find that it has already ruined. Check it, at least twice.
• Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and discard the rack. Transfer the drippings to a measuring cup. Retrieve off most of the fat, you can save some out to add back to the pan, if you feel the desire to have it a little richer, I don't really like a fat gravy.
• Taste the drippings, add more broth if desired.
• Do not have it too salty. Mix some cornstarch into a bowl with a little water or room temperature stock (about 2 tablespoons starch).
• Bring the drippings to a simmer in a small saucepan. Let the pan be slightly below the boil, and add in the starch, by degrees until it is thick and proper.
• Cook, if needed, then serve with the roast, carved up at table.