Geoffrey Zakarians Roasted Chicken Recipes

ROASTED SPLIT CHICKEN WITH DILL SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the chicken on a baking sheet fitted with a rack. Sprinkle the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken until it is rich and caramelized and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the leg (avoiding bone) reads 160 degrees F, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow the bird to rest for 20 minutes.
• In a mortar and pestle, add the capers, garlic, lemon zest, anchovies, flaky salt and black pepper to taste. Mash into a coarse paste. (You can also use a mini chopper and pulse into a coarse paste, then transfer to a bowl.) Coarsely chop the dill, arugula, basil, parsley and tarragon, if using, together, then add to the anchovy-caper paste. Stir in the oil and set aside.
• Cut the chicken into drumsticks and thighs, then halve the breasts (with wings still attached), and arrange on a platter. Spoon the salsa verde over the chicken. Season with some more pepper and smoked salt. Serve.

STOVE-FREE CHICKEN WITH RED BLISS POTATOES, SUMMER SQUASH AND CHILE-GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to 325 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, mix the celery salt with a few pinches of kosher salt. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the butter, red chili flakes, garlic, the juice of half a lemon and half of the celery salt mixture.
• Put some of the butter mixture on a spoon and press it under the skin of the chicken from the cavity side. Continue to work more of the butter mixture under the skin and towards the front of the bird, evenly spreading it over the breast. Work the rest of the butter mixture under the skin of the legs. It's okay if it's coming out the side; it will drip onto the potatoes as it cooks. Season the interior and exterior of the chicken liberally with the remaining celery salt mixture and some salt and pepper.
• Put the potatoes and shallots in a large skillet. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put the skillet on the center of the grill. Arrange 2 bricks on either side of the skillet. Set a cooling rack on top of the bricks over the skillet. Put the chicken on the rack and reduce the heat to low. The grill should maintain a temperature of 325 degrees F.
• Roast the chicken for approximately 30 minutes. If the potatoes begin to brown too much, turn them and add a splash of water to deglaze the bottom. After 30 minutes, add the zucchini and yellow squash to the skillet. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 155 degrees F, another 20 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board to rest for 5 minutes before carving. Top the potato-squash mixture with the basil, jalapeño slices, the juice of the remaining lemon half and some salt. Toss to combine. Carve the chicken and serve with potato-squash mixture on the side.

CHICKEN "STIR-FRY" CHEAT SHEET

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds and ginger. Add the chicken and season with pepper. Marinate, refrigerated, for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Once hot, put a baking sheet lined with foil in the oven for 20 minutes to heat up.
• Toss the marinated chicken with the onion, carrots, bell pepper and broccoli, then drain any excess liquid. Put the chicken and vegetables flat on the hot baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Put the baking sheet back in the oven and roast, stirring halfway through to promote even browning, until the chicken is fully cooked, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a platter and top with the scallions.

GZ'S CHICKEN STOCK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the chicken pieces on a sheet tray fitted with a rack and roast until caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• Put the chicken pieces in a large pot with the carrots, thyme, peppercorns, bay leaves, leeks, onions, apple and 1 gallon water. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 2 to 3 hours (do not let it come to a boil or the stock will become cloudy).
• Ladle the stock from the top of the pot into a strainer set over a large bowl. Place in an ice bath to cool quickly. Transfer the cooled stock to resealable containers. The stock can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 6 months.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH TAQUERIA-STYLE GREEN SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the chicken on a sheet pan fitted with a rack. Season liberally with salt. Refrigerate, uncovered, overnight.
• When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Season the chicken again with salt. Roast the chicken until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 160 degrees F, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• While the chicken is roasting, preheat a stovetop grill to high. Place the tomatillos and jalapeño on the grill. Cook until blistered and charred in spots, 8 to 10 minutes, then flip and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a blender.
• Add the honey, lime juice, cilantro and salt and pepper to taste to the blender. Process until the desired consistency, but don't let it get too smooth. Set aside.
• Let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Pour the pan juices into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Working with 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, whisk the butter into the juices until incorporated and smooth. Whisk in the vinegar.
• Carve the chicken and arrange on a platter. (Reserve the carcass for stock.) Pour the pan juices around the chicken. Drizzle the green sauce over the chicken and sprinkle with the scallions and chives.