1 tbsp The Spice People’s thyme or 1/2 bunch fresh thyme leaves
1.6kg whole free-range chicken
1 lemon
1 garlic bulb
1/2 cup olive oil 4 brown onions, thinly sliced
salt
1 tbsp butter
The love this recipe
Over the standard roast chicken with veg you’ve been wearing out each Sunday for years? This is the recipe for you! The North African Chermoula adds the most beautiful aromatic, smoky flavour when roasted and creates a wonderfully crispy, flavourful skin.
By placing the garlic, lemon and thyme inside the cavity, it not only permeates the chicken with flavour and aroma, but the moisture inside them steams the chicken from within making it super succulent and juicy! Plus, the lemon and soft garlic make the perfect finishing touch to the chicken when serving.
The caramelised onions add the perfect amount of sweetness with the added zing of Sumac Crushed that gives the perfect lemony flavour. By cooking them low and slow, it makes an instant chutney that also soaks up all the pan juices from roasting.
I serve this usually with some roasted potatoes, a salad or atop some hummus.
Directions
Remove the chicken from the fridge 30-40 minutes before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature (this ensures an even cook throughout and keeps the meat tender). Preheat the oven to 240 degrees. Remove the chicken from its packaging and pat dry.
Cut the lemon and the garlic bulb in half down the middle and place in the cavity of the chicken along with the thyme. In a small bowl, combine the Chermoula blend, 2/3 of the olive oil, and a generous pinch of salt to make a paste. Place the chicken in the roasting tray and rub the spice paste well into the chicken.
Place the chicken in the oven and immediately turn the oven down to 200 degrees and cook for 1 hour 20 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 15 minutes.
While the chicken rests, take the tray it was roasted in with the juices in there and place on low heat with the remaining olive oil. Add the onions with a generous pinch of salt and cook on low heat until they become super soft – about 8-10 minutes. When they’re at their softest, add the butter and sumac in and stir in.
Carve the chicken and serve with the jammy onions as well as a squeeze of the lemon that’s inside and the garlic pulp. Serve with your favorite veg side dishes and enjoy!
