Whole chicken Sunday lunch

Ingredients

• 1 Large Free Range Banham Chicken

• 50g Soft Butter

• 1 Lemon

• 1 Orange

• Fresh Thyme Leaves

• Fresh Rosemary Leaves

• 1L Chicken Stock

• 10 Garlic Cloves

• 2 Red Onions

• 8 Carrots

• 3 Courgettes

• Fresh Green Beans

• 1kg New Potatoes

• Virgin Olive Oil

• Rock Salt

• Black Pepper

Tools Used

• A sturdy oven dish

For the Bird

Set oven to 190c/ fan 170c/ Gas 5.

Finely grate zest from lemon and orange.

Mix 1/2 the thyme leaves into the soft butter, add 3/4 of the lemon and orange zest and set aside to rest.

Roughly chop 1/2 the carrots, the red onions and the courgettes and add to baking tray along with 6 garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Place the chicken in a roasting tray on top of the veg, rub all over with the zesty butter and drizzle with olive oil. Cut the lemon in half and place in the chicken cavity with the remaining thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper.

Roast in the oven for 55 minutes per kg, or until the chicken is golden brown and juices run clear when pierced.

For the Potatoes

Give the potatoes a quick wash/ rub under cold water and dry with a tea towel.

On a chopping board, use a fork to prick each potato several times and put in a baking tray. Once all the potatoes are in a tray, add the remaining chopped carrots and garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle in rosemary leaves and remaining zest and garlic. Mix well and season with salt and pepper.

Place in the oven and check every 15 minutes or so, shaking the tray to move the potatoes around for even cooking.

Once roasted, pour into a sharing bowl for the table. Season well with salt and pepper.

For the Gravy

Take the cooked chicken out of the oven, once ready, and leave to rest for 10-15 minutes.

Skim/ pour off juices from the baking tray into a small cooking pot. Scrape in cooked vegetables and crispy bits from roasting tin.

On a low(ish) heat, gently mix in a couple of tablespoons of flour and add chicken stock until thickened. Heat through and strain through sieve into a gravy boat to serve.

For the Veg

Nonna loves fresh green beans with this, but feel free to replace it with your own vegetable favourite.

Whole Chicken Sunday Lunch Box 

You can order our complete Sunday Lunch Box until 8am Thursday for delivery on Friday.

Easily feeds a family of 5-6 with plenty leftovers - just how we like it.