Herbed Roast Chicken
- 1 (5 lb) whole chickens, trimmed of excess fat, giblets discarded
- 12 cup table salt, plus 1/4 teaspoon
- 14 cup fresh tarragon leaves, lightly packed
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leave
- 6 medium scallions, green parts sliced thin (about 2/3 cup)
- 1 medium garlic clove, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
- 14 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 12 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- FOR THE CHICKEN:.
- Butterfly chicken and flatten breastbone.Tuck wings behind back.Using sharp knife, lightly score skin of thighs and legs,making 2 shallow cuts on each part about 1/8 inch into meat and about 3/4 inch apart.
- Dissolve 1/2 cup salt in 2 quarts cold water in large container.
- Submerge chicken in brine,cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour.
- Meanwhile,adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees.
- Place tarragon, thyme, scallions, garlic, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper on cutting board; mince to fine paste.
- Transfer herb paste to medium bowl and add butter.
- Using fork or stiff rubber spatula, mix until combined.
- Transfer 2 tablespoons herb butter to small bowl and refrigerate; set aside remainder at room temperature.
- Remove chicken from brine and rinse under cold water; pat dry with paper towel.
- Using fingers, carefully seperate skin from each side of breast to form pocket.
- Place 1 tablespoon softend herb butter in each pocket (one tablespoon on each breast).Using spoon or fingers, spread butter over breast meat in pocket under the skin.
- Season skin with pepper.
- Heat oil in ovensafe 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking.
- Place chicken skin-side down in skillet and reduce heat to medium.
- Cook until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer skillet to oven and roast chicken 25 minutes.
- Using tong, flip chicken so skin-side is facing up.
- Using spoon or spatula, evenly coat chicken skin with remaining softened butter and return to oven.
- Roast chicken until skin is golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast registers 160 degrees and 175 degrees in thickest part of thight, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to carving board and let rest, uncovered, 20 minutes.
- FOR THE SAUCE:.
- While chicken rests, pour pan juices into fat separator; allow liquid to settle 5 minutes.
- Pour juices into 2-cup measuring cup and add enough chicken broth to measure 1 1/2 cups.
- Add 2 teaspoons fat from fat separator to skillet and place over medium heat.
- When fat is shimmering, add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until golden, about 60 seconds.
- Add broth and bring to simmer, scraping pan bottom to loosen browned bits.
- Simmer rapidly until reduced to 1 cup, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Stir in any accumulated chicken juices from carving board; return to simmer and cook 30 seconds.
- Remove pan from heat, whisk in cold herb butter and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.
- Carve chicken and serve, passing sauce separately.
whole chickens, salt, tarragon, thyme, scallions, garlic, ground black pepper, unsalted butter, vegetable oil, chicken broth, flour, lemon juice
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/herbed-roast-chicken-333525 (may not work)