Description
This hearty Engagement Roast Chicken recipe celebrates Ina Garten’s culinary magic with simple, elegant ingredients. Succulent herb-infused poultry emerges from roasting as a memorable centerpiece for special moments together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (4 to 5 lbs or 1.8 to 2.3 kg) roasting chicken
- 2 Spanish onions, peeled and thickly sliced
- 1 whole head of garlic, cut in half crosswise
- 2 lemons
- 4 fl oz (120 ml) dry white wine
- 4 fl oz (120 ml) chicken stock (preferably homemade)
- 1 tbsp (about 8 g) all-purpose flour
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Good olive oil
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan) with the rack centered. Remove chicken giblets and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
- Seasoning: Season chicken cavity with salt and pepper. Stuff with lemon quarters and garlic cloves. Massage exterior with olive oil, then generously season skin with salt and pepper. Truss legs with culinary twine and tuck wing tips underneath.
- Roasting: Place chicken in a roasting pan surrounded by lemon quarters and sliced onions tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes until juices run clear when pierced between leg and thigh.
- Resting: Remove chicken from oven and transfer to a serving platter. Cover with foil for 10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Sauce Creation: Position roasting pan over medium-high heat. Deglaze with white wine, scraping caramelized bits. Add chicken stock and flour, stirring continuously until sauce thickens. Incorporate chicken drippings.
- Serving: Carve chicken and plate with caramelized lemon wedges, roasted onions, and warm sauce.
Notes
- Moisture Mastery: Pat the chicken completely dry to ensure crispy, golden-brown skin that locks in incredible flavor and achieves perfect roasting results.
- Seasoning Strategy: Salt the chicken generously inside and outside before cooking, allowing the seasoning to penetrate deeply and enhance the meat’s natural taste.
- Roasting Precision: Use a compact roasting pan to concentrate heat and prevent excessive liquid accumulation, creating concentrated flavors and helping the chicken brown beautifully.
- Resting Ritual: Let the chicken rest covered for exactly 10 minutes after cooking, allowing juices to redistribute and ensuring each slice remains incredibly tender and succulent.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 50 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg