Sunday, December 30, 2007

The Ultimate Roast Chicken Provencal

From Tyler's Ultimate

Herb Paste
Leaves from 1 bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley
Leaves from 1/4 bunch of fresh thyme
Leaves from 1 bunch of fresh tarragon
4 garlic cloves
1/4 C EVOO
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 (3.5 pound) chicken
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, cut in half, plus 1/2 lemon sliced paper thin
3 big tomatoes, cut into wedges
4 small zucchini, cut into 1/2" thick rounds
1 red onion, thinly sliced
Leaves from 4 fresh thyme sprigs
EVOO

Preheat oven to 400.
Throw the parsley, thyme, tarragon, garlic and EVOO in a blender, season well with salt and pepper, and puree to a green paste.
Rinse the chicken with cool water inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Set the chicken on a cutting board, and season the cavity generously with salt and pepper. Stuff the lemon halves into the cavity. Fold the wing tips under the bird and tie the legs together with kitchen string to give it a nice shape while it cooks. Rub the chicken all over with the herb paste so it's well coated.
Put the chicken in a large roasting pan fitted with a rack and scatter the tomatoes, zucchini, onion, lemon slices, and thyme around. Give the vegetables a big, healthy dose of EVOO - 1/4 cup should do it - and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the chicken into the oven and roast for 1 hour, then check on it with an instant-read thermometer by popping it into the thickest part of the thigh. When it reads 160, the bird is cooked.
Take the pan out of the oven and let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before carving so the juices have a chance to settle into the meat. Serve with the roasted vegetables.

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