Citrus Herb Roasted Chicken

"Discard herbs and spices that have been in your kitchen for more than one year. They really don't have any flavor or redeeming value. Step #6 for Slow-Roasted Chicken or see Faster-Roasted Chicken Method, Step #8."
 
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Ready In:
3hrs 45mins
Ingredients:
17
Serves:
8
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ingredients

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directions

  • Remove the giblets from chicken; discard or save for another use. If you like, rinse the chicken thoroughly on outside as well as inside the body and neck cavities. Let any excess water run off. Pat dry with paper towels. To prevent the wing tips from overbrowning and for a neater appearance, twist wing tips under back of the chicken. Set aside. Open and cuff back the top of a large, freezer-quality zipper-type plastic storage bag; set aside.
  • For spice rub: In a small bowl, combine salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, thyme, black pepper, sage and cayenne pepper. Remove 1 tablespoon of the spice rub; set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the reserved 1 tablespoon of spice rub, lemon, onion, garlic and sugar. Squeeze a wedge of lemon over the lemon mixture. Cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours.
  • Use your fingers to rub and massage the remaining spice rub all over the chicken's skin and inside the body cavity. If possible, reach under the skin. Place chicken in storage bag. Seal bag and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degree. Place chicken, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Stuff the chicken's cavity with the lemon and onion mixture. If you like, add 1 sprig of rosemary inside the cavity. Roast, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
  • To Slow-Roast Chicken: Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degree. Roast, uncovered, for 1 hour. Use a squeeze-style baster or a pastry brush to baste the chicken with the pan juices. Roast, uncovered, for 2-1/2 to 3 hours more, basting chicken with pan juices about every 30 minutes. (Note: Basting ensures the chicken will be moist.) Roast the chicken until the drumsticks move easily in their sockets and chicken is no longer pink. Remove chicken from oven. (Note: Check the internal temperature of the chicken with an instant meat thermometer inserted into the center of an inside thigh muscle. The tip of the thermometer should not touch the bone and thermometer should register 180 degree.)
  • To serve, transfer chicken to a large serving platter. If you like, garnish with lemon twists and rosemary sprigs.
  • Faster-Roasted Chicken Method: Prepare chicken as directed above in Steps 1 through 6. Reduce heat to 375 degree. Roast, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until drumsticks move easily in their sockets and chicken is no longer pink (180 degree). Remove chicken from oven. Cover; let stand for 10 minutes before carving.

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I'm just me, mother, grandmother...friend to many and a Louisianian. My Cajun and French Quarter Italian descent afforded me exposure to some of the best of foods. My passions are my family, decorating, cooking and gardening. Those very passions push me into constant awareness with always looking for something new to delight the senses, thus my favorite idiom...Inspire me, puuuullllllleeeeeeease! ...and I mean it, too. God Bless America!
 
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