September 18th, 2009 
duodishes 
Even though it’s still hot and steamy outside, there’s nothing like roasting a chicken. It feels so old fashioned and homey. What 20-somethings do you know who wake up early on the weekend to roast and baste a chicken? Probably not many! For some reason, when we saw this ‘lil Foster Farms bird just waiting to find a good home (aka oven), we knew we had to pick one up. Once you take them out of the bag, raw chickens do not look so cute anymore. Pale, naked, insecure–not fit for good eats. Ours needed dire assistance, a foodie makeover if you will. We consulted our arsenal of ingredients to do what we could to make him the best bird he could be.
One of the other nice things about roasting a chicken is that the process is so simple. All you really need is salt, pepper and olive oil or butter, and you’re fine. Anything above that is the ribbon on the box. We tossed in two of our favorite and most used herbs along with that tried and true citrus flavor to up the ante on this one. No longer timid and pale, this chicken was now juicy, flavorful and ready to be eaten. Clearly, just like Patti Labelle, this bird had a new attitude!
Citrus and Herb Roasted Chicken – Serves 6 to 8
4 1/2 pound whole chicken
15 sprigs rosemary (8 destemmed and roughly chopped, 7 whole)
20 sprigs thyme
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp
1 orange, zested then sliced
5 scallions, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chicken broth
Kosher salt
Black pepper
1. Remove chicken innards and rinse inside and outside of bird. Place in a deep baking dish or roasting pan.
2. Mix butter with olive oil and chopped rosemary, half of the scallions, half of the garlic, all of the orange zest and half of the thyme sprigs. (Don’t worry about the thyme stems. Leave them as they are.) Stir well until fully blended.
3. Stuff inside of chicken with remaining whole rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, garlic and scallions. Rub citrus herb butter on chicken, covering all parts of the bird completely.*
4. Season entire bird liberally with salt and pepper, then cover with orange slices.
5. Cover the chicken with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
6. Take chicken out of the oven, remove foil and pour in chicken broth. Mix broth with drippings in the pan and baste well. Put the chicken back in the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 25-30 minutes, basting frequently. If you have a meat thermometer, the thickest part of the chicken should register between 160 and 165 degrees.
*If you’d like to tie the bird’s legs with twine, you can. We left him open and free!
Click HERE for the printable recipe.
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extreme bird make over?? hehe funny!! btw ye bird sound terrific! citrus and herb. vat a great combo!
cheers!
OOOOH an herby citrusy chicken, how deliicous. Roasted chickens are a favorite here. What a way to dress it up!
That roasted chicken looks yum yum yummy!
Excellent preparation with citrus & herbs! Yay for makeovers!
I need to get over my fear of chicken innerds…
Oh man, I love roast chicken. When I was a 20something I used to get up early to roast chickens with a buddy of mine. Good times.
Roast chicken is very high on my list of comfort foods. I love just ripping one apart with my bare hands.
Herbs and citrus is my favorite way to do chicken. It’s simple and perfect. I did one a few months back where I switched things up a bit and stuffed sage-butter and oranges under the skin, but rosemary rocks the hardest.
Oh that roast looks so inviting. That bird does look pretty big. Any leftovers? ;-D I can imagine the endless possibilities you can make with the meat. Mmmmm…
haha the title paired with the picture cracked me up!!! looks very very yummy
for new cooks like me a roast is scary, even though i’ve been told the seasoning part really is just the basic salt pepper olive oil stuff like you said, because of that whole “removing parts” step. lol it just seems so intimidating!
Roasting chicken has to be one of the best smells ever!! This looks wonderful!
Mmm….. I can really smell it from here
I wanna have a share too!
This is SO timely…I was just telling a friend how I want to try roasting my own bird!
i’ve never roasted chicken with orange (mostly lemon), i’m soooooooooooooooooooo trying it!!!!
thx for sharing!
I could eat the whole bird. It looks so good. BTW, I love your title. Is the show still on?
Check out my citrus chicken version at http://www.phamfatale.com/id_44/title_Mon-Poulet-Roti-Roast-Chicken-wih-a-citrus-butter-marinade/
Wow! This is absolutely beautiful. I love all of the flavors
The cooler weather has definitely got me craving things like roasted chicken right now. I love the idea of this citrus and herb “dressing” for it. What a fresh and flavorful way to enjoy chicken!
that is one helluva delicious makeover! I love all of the ingredients you used to roast the bird.
Wow! You’re making me wanna try this in 90 degree heat outside down here!
“pale, naked, insecure”–I laughed out loud at that one. I’ve been searching for a way to describe the sadness that washes over me when I take a chicken out of the package!
I love how the house smells while a chicken is roasting. This sounds great with the orange!
Looks fabulous – will most certainly try this one.
Looks delicious! I’ll have to roast a chicken again…
If i can’t think of anything to eat, I’d roast chicken. So simple yet so delicious!
love roasted chicken and yours looks so rustic, just the way I like it…. I have a whole chicken in the freezer which will most likely end up like that delicious one you got there ; )
Roasted chicken has such an earthly warm taste, smell and feel. This citrus and herb roasted chicken is a wonderful twist!
Roasting a chicken is so primal.
Speaking of which, this looks so good, I don’t know if I would bother with utensils – I’d have to just grab a drumstick and have at it!
I’m not a big fan of chicken but this looks so tempting!
Darn this looks good! I am waiting on my friends to get ready so we can go eat, and now I am going to yell at them louder!
I love the orange addition, and like Lisa, nothing beats the smell of roasting chicken.
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