Italian Herb Roast Chicken
Ingredients
- 4-5 pound whole chicken
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh Basil
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons fresh Oregano
- 2 sprigs rosemary, chopped
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1 lemon, halved
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse the chicken and chicken cavity with water and pat dry with paper towels.
In a small bowl combine together the basil, parsley, thyme, oregano and rosemary.
Sprinkle sea salt over the inside of the cavity. Grasp the skin at the tip of the chicken breast and gently pull up. Carefully, using your fingers to gently separate the skin from the breast meat, try not to tear the skin.
Sprinkle a little salt into the gaps and spread as much of the chopped herb mixture as possible.
Drizzle with a little olive oil. Stuff the cavity with the lemon, bay leaves, rosemary springs, and any remaining herbs.
Pull the skin of the chicken breast over the breast so that none of the meat is exposed. Tuck in the wings and truss with kitchen string.
Rub some olive oil over the chicken and sprinkle all over with salt and pepper. Carefully remove the hot roasting pan from the oven and add a little oil to the bottom of the pan. Place the chicken on one side, breast side down, on the roasting pan and put it back in the oven.
Cook for 5 minutes, then turn the chicken so that the other breast is on the pan and cook for another 5 minutes.
Starting off by cooking the chicken this way will help brown the breasts. Then turn the chicken over so that it is back-side down. Cook for 1 hour, or until the juices run clear (not pink) when a knife tip is inserted into both the chicken breast and thigh, about 165-170°F for the breast and 175-180°F for the thigh.