Whole Roasted Chicken North African Style Recipes

NORTH AFRICAN SPICED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Add the chicken to a large bowl then drizzle with avocado oil and all the spices. Using a pair of tongs turn and mix the chicken pieces and spices together until they are evenly distributed over the chicken.
• Sear the chicken about a minute or to per side on a large frying pan heated to medium high heat.
• Bake in the oven at 350ºF for 15 minutes, or until the internal temperautre reaches 165ºF.

JUICY ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place chicken in a roasting pan, and season generously inside and out with salt and pepper. Sprinkle inside and out with onion powder. Place 3 tablespoons margarine in the chicken cavity. Arrange dollops of the remaining margarine around the chicken's exterior. Cut the celery into 3 or 4 pieces, and place in the chicken cavity.
• Bake uncovered 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven, to a minimum internal temperature of 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove from heat, and baste with melted margarine and drippings. Cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest about 30 minutes before serving.

WHOLE ROASTED CHICKEN NORTH AFRICAN STYLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
• After washing chicken, wipe with paper towels and season the chicken and cavity with salt and pepper.
• Using a mortar and pestle, pound the parsley, chervil, chopped onion, butter, cumin, cayenne pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt to a paste.
• Spread the paste carefully over the whole chicken with a spatula.
• Place a skewer through the wings of the chicken to secure them closely to the sides of the bird during cooking.
• Lay the chicken, breast side down, in a roasting pan and roast for 20 minutes until lightly browned.
• Turn the bird over so that the breast is up and roast for another 15-20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from oven and turn down the heat to 350 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, lightly dust the chicken breast with flour.
• Place chicken back in oven.
• Baste with pan juices and continue to roast for about 1 hour or until the chicken is done, and continue basting frequently during cooking time.
• When done, the juices will run clear when you push a skewer through the thickest part of the leg.
• Remove chicken to a cutting board and carve.
• Serve immediately.

WHOLE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven.
• Arrange the pearl onions and carrots in the bottom of a roasting pan. Drizzle with the wine. Set a roasting rack in the center of the pan on top of the vegetables and brush with the oil so that the chicken doesn't stick.
• Place the chicken, breast-side up, on the rack. Sprinkle the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Put the pan in the center of the oven and roast until the juices run clear or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding bone) registers 165 degrees F. (I calculate cooking about 15 minutes per pound of bird, so for a 4-pound bird I check the juices and temperature after 1 hour of cooking.)
• Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest in the pan for at least 10 minutes or up to 20.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, gently placing it breast-side down so the juices can flow through the breast meat as it rests for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
• Place the roasting pan with the vegetables on a burner on the stove and add the chicken stock and mustard. Simmer gently, scraping any bits of chicken fat and skin from the bottom. Let the sauce simmer a little with the vegetables, 2 to 3 minutes. Add half the butter and cook, about 1 minute. Remove the vegetables from the pan to a plate. Add the lemon juice, half the tarragon and 1 more tablespoon butter. Allow the butter to melt, then remove the gravy to a serving bowl.
• Turn the chicken breast-side up on a cutting board and carve. (The cut side will need some seasoning.) Rub the remaining butter onto the carved chicken breast meat and season with salt. Sprinkle with the remaining tarragon. Serve the chicken with the sauce and vegetables on the side.

GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH NORTH AFRICAN SPICE PASTE

Steps:

• Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking with medium-hot charcoal.
• Coarsely grind chiles, spice seeds, garlic, and peppercorns in grinder or with mortar and pestle, then stir together with salt and oil in a bowl to form a spice paste. Rub paste all over chicken.
• Oil grill rack, then grill chicken, skin sides down first, over coals, turning over occasionally and moving around if flare-ups occur, until browned, 4 to 5 minutes total.
• Move chicken to area with no coals underneath, arranging chicken so that thicker sides are closest to coals, then cover with inverted roasting pan and grill, turning chicken over once, until just cooked through, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer to a platter and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

NORTH AFRICAN CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C/gas 4. Cut each chicken breast in half, then season all the chicken. Heat the oil in a mediumsize ovenproof casserole dish. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and brown well all over - you can do it in batches. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Lower heat slightly, add the shallots to the pan and cook until golden brown all over. Add the garlic and grated ginger and cook for 30 secs before adding all the spices and cooking for 1 min more.
• Throw the butternut squash into the pan and stir to coat in the spices. Arrange the chicken, skin side uppermost, on top of the shallots and squash. Pour over the stock and drizzle in the honey. Bring to a gentle simmer, then transfer to the oven to bake for 40 mins until tender. Scatter with the coriander and serve with couscous and a bowl of harissa, if you like.