Whole Roasted Chicken with Plumped Raisins, Toasted Pine Nuts, and Arugula
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 fresh rosemary sprig
- One 3 1/2-pound whole chicken, preferably free-range
- 4 fresh thyme sprigs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
- 1/4 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
- 2 cups fresh arugula leaves, stemmed
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted (see Note, page 54)
- Preheat the oven to 300F.
- Put the raisins in a small ramekin and pour in the olive oil and 1 tablespoon water.
- Add the rosemary.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until the raisins are plump.
- Remove the raisins from the oven and set aside to cool.
- Crank the oven temperature up to 450F.
- Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity and rinse the chicken inside and out under cold water.
- Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
- Run your finger between the skin and the reast meat of the chicken, and slip the thyme sprigs in there.
- Season the body and cavity of the chicken generously with salt and pepper.
- Put a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and add the canola oil.
- When the oil is hot, lay the chicken in the pan, breast side down, tucking the wings under.
- Put the skillet in the oven and roast until the chicken starts to brown, about 35 minutes.
- Carefully take the pan out of the oven.
- Insert tongs or a sturdy wooden spoon into the cavity of the chicken and gently lift the chicken out, being careful not to tear the skin.
- Tilt the chicken slightly so all of the juices from the inside run out into the pan.
- Set the chicken on a large plate for a minute.
- Discard all of the pan juices, which will mostly be fat.
- Nestle the chicken back in the pan, breast side up.
- Return it to the oven and roast for 30 minutes.
- The chicken is done when the juices run clear when the meat is pierced with a knife.
- To be extra sure, pop an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; it should read 165F.
- Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before carving so the juices can settle back into the meat.
- To make a quick pan sauce, pour off the excess fat from the pan drippings.
- Put the skillet over medium-high heat and add the wine.
- Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits stuck to bottom of the pan.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- To serve, put a bed of arugula on individual plates or on a platter and arrange the carved chicken on top.
- Scatter the raisins and pine nuts all over.
- Drizzle with the pan sauce and a little of the raisin oil.
raisins, extravirgin olive oil, rosemary sprig, chicken, thyme, kosher salt, canola oil, white wine, arugula, pine nuts
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/whole-roasted-chicken-with-plumped-raisins-toasted-pine-nuts-and-arugula-377774 (may not work)