Whole baked chicken with North African spices

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Roast chicken with North African spices with an easy recipe. Bake the chicken with water and spices in a casserole, then crisp up the skin.

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hr 50 minutes

Source: delicious https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/whole-baked-chicken-with-north-african-spices/

Ingredients:

• 2 lemons

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed

• 2 tsp grated fresh ginger

• 2 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp ground turmeric

•  1 tsp sea salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 tbsp clear honey

• 1.5 kg free-range chicken

• 2 bay leaves, bashed

• Steamed couscous, sprinkled with fresh coriander, to serve (we 'enhanced' the couscous, adding in spices, and raisins at the cooking stage, and then stirring in pomegranate.

Method:

1. Heat the oven to 150ºC fan/gas 3½. Stir together the zest and juice of 1 lemon with the garlic, ginger, ground spices, salt, pepper, oil and honey.

2. Slice the remaining lemon and put a few slices in the bird’s cavity with the bay. Scatter the rest of the lemon slices in a 6 litre casserole (with a lid).

3. Push your fingers under the skin at the neck end of the bird and gently release it from the flesh. Spoon a little of the spice paste under the skin, then spread the remaining paste all over the chicken.

4. Put the spiced chicken on top of the lemon slices in the casserole. Carefully pour 150ml cold water around the sides of the bird, avoiding getting it on the breast to keep the spice mix in place. Cover the dish and transfer to the oven. Cook for 1½ hours, then remove from the oven. Increase the oven temperature to 200ºC fan/gas 7.

5. Remove the casserole lid and baste the bird with the pan juices. Return to the oven and cook, uncovered, for a further 15-20 minutes until the skin is golden. Remove from the oven, then rest for 5 minutes.

6. Carve the chicken and serve drizzled with all the lovely pan juices and steamed couscous.

Cook’s tip

Don’t waste it: Chill leftover chicken for 3-4 days. Cut into chunks and mix with mayo and mango chutney for a speedy coronation chicken.

In a slow cooker: Cook on the low setting for 3-4 hours (use just 100ml water). Serve as is or crisp up the skin in a hot oven for 15-20 minutes, if it’s on.