Djedj Mechoui Algerian Poulet Rotiroast Chicken Recipes

DJEDJ MECHOUI (ALGERIAN POULET ROTI/ROAST CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 450°F.
• Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and slide your fingers under the skin of the breast and thighs to loosen/separate it from the flesh.
• Mash the garlic with the salt, using a fork or a mortar and pestle.
• Work the garlic/salt paste into the butter and then work in the spices; using your fingers, spread the spiced butter into the cavities between the skin and the flesh of the chicken.
• Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the chicken; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Season the cavity with salt and pepper and place the four lemon halves and the thyme inside.
• Roast the chicken breast side down for 15 minutes.
• Turn the chicken breast side up and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Baste frequently, using additional water and olive oil as needed.
• If the skin begins to brown too soon, cover with foil (but remove the foil about 15 minutes before the roasting time is up).
• The chicken should be done in about 90 minutes; the skin between the breasts and the legs should become almost transparent, the legs should move easily in the socket, and any juices should be clear.
• Let rest before carving.
• Strain excess fat out of the cooking juices and squeeze in some lemon juice for a lovely flavor.
• Note: Zari suggests serving with orange salads dressed with pomegranate vinaigrette and carrot salads dressed with lemon, cumin and olive oil.

ALGERIAN CHICKEN AND OLIVE STEW

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium high heat; add chicken and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in butter, garlic, saffron, and cilantro; cook another 10 minutes, stirring, to be sure garlic and spices evenly coat the chicken.
• Add water and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until chicken is tender, about 25 minutes.
• Stir in olives and lemon juice; simmer 8 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper; serve over couscous or rice.

CROCKPOT ROASTED CHICKEN (POULET ROTI - A RECIPE INSPIRED BY CHE

Steps:

• Put the onions in the bottom of your crockpot.
• Mix together the herbs and spices, rubbing them together with your fingers to blend.
• Gently lift the skin from either side of the breast and using your fingers, push a bit of the herb mix under each side.
• Turn the chicken over and make a small slit behind each thigh and push some of the herb mix under the thigh skin.
• Sprinkle the rest of the herb mixture over the top of the chicken and if you have any left sprinkle it inside the chicken.
• Put your chicken into the crockpot, on top of the onions, breast side up. No liquid is needed, the chicken will make it's own juices!
• Cook in the crockpot on the low setting for 4-6 hours. My crockpot cooked the chicken in about 5 hours. I'd recommend a pop-up timer in the chicken because some crock pots cook faster/slower than others.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH GINGER, MACARONI AND CARAMELIZED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place the chopped tomatoes in a colander and salt them and let them sit, draining, for about an hour.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Season the cavity of the chicken with salt and pepper and smear the cavity with the grated ginger.
• Smear the outside of the bird with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the chicken on its side in an oval baking dish and place the dish in the oven.
• When the bird begins to color (loght golden), turn it on its other side, then, when that side has begun to color, turn it on its back.
• After 20 minutes, turn the oven down to 350°F, remove the excess fat from the pan and begin to baste with lemon juice.
• Bring the wine to a simmer and reserve.
• When there is no more lemon juice, pour the wine into the pan and continue basting.
• Roast for about 45 minutes more, or until juice runs clear when the thigh is pricked above the drumstick joint.
• When the chicken is done, remove from the oven, and let it rest while you drain any excess fat from the pan juices.
• Meanwhile, cook the macaroni in generously salted, vigorously boiling water for about 12 minutes.
• In a heavy frying over high heat, add the garlic to 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• As soon as the garlic begins to sizzle, add the tomatoes.
• Shake the pan constantly, tossing the tomatoes repeatedly for about a mnute or so, until they are nearly dry and give off a caramelized scent.
• Add the basil leaves, tearing them by hand, toss the tomato mixture again and remove from heat.
• Drain the macaroni and place in a wide shallow serving dish which you have warmed (easiest to do this by placing dish in sink when you drain the pasta--the pasta water will warm the dish).
• Add the tomatoes and the chicken's roasting juices to the macaroni and toss well.
• Carve the chicken at the table and serve it with the macaroni.

TRADITIONAL ALGERIAN SABLES (COOKIES) - LIKE LINZER AUGEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 170°C
• Cream the margarine & sugar(s) until light & fluffy.
• Beat in the egg & vanilla, then gradually fold in the flour & baking powder.
• Mix slowly until a soft dough forms. The dough is very soft & needs handling with care but it shouldn't be sticky. If your dough is still a little sticky, sift in a little extra flour.
• Roll out to about 4mm thick, be sure to flour the rolling pin well.
• Cut out 'tops & bottoms' for your sables.
• Place on a baking tray lined with aluminium foil (shiny side up) & bake for 8 minutes. The sables should be just set but still white.
• Allow the sables to cool on the sheet for a minute then remove to a cold plate or tray to finish cooling.
• When the sables are fully cooled, heat the jam until bubbling.
• Place all the sables tops onto a tray & dust generously with the icing sugar.
• Allow the jam to cool slightly then spoon approx 1/2 tsp of the jam onto the underside of the sables 'bottoms'.
• Then carefully place a 'top' over the blob of jam.
• Allow to set, then store in one layer in an airtight container for upto 10 days.