Rustic Roast Chicken

Prep Time:

25 minutes

Cook Time:

1.5 – 2 hours

This informal meal is be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere with everyone tucking in to torn pieces of bread and dipping them in the juices from the chicken. A fun way of eating and socialising combined.

Ingredients(4-6)

• 1 large SPAR Tender & Tasty Chicken
• 1 lemon

Tomato Butter

• 30 ml Tomato Pesto
• 45 ml SPAR butter, softened
• SPAR Freshly ground black pepper

Dough

• 15 ml SPAR sugar
• 1 x10g sachet dried yeast
• 400g SPAR Wheat Flour
• 5 ml SPAR salt
• 60g SPAR butter, melted
• 1/3 cup lukewarm water, plus extra if necessary
• 2 SPAR eggs
• SPAR Oil for brushing

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 c.
2. For the tomato butter: combine the tomato pesto and soft butter.  Season with black pepper.
3. Separate the skin from the body of the chicken and push the butter underneath.
4. Cut the lemon into quarters and place inside the chicken.  Place the chicken in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove and prepare the dough.
5. For the dough: Sift the dry ingredients together.  Combine the melted butter and lukewarm water.  Add to the dry ingredients together with the eggs.  Mix to form a soft pliable dough.  Knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.  Brush with oil and place in a bowl and allow to rise until doubled in size.
6. Knock down the dough and roll into a circle 1cm thick and 45 cm across.
7. Place the par cooked chicken on top, then wrap the dough around it and seal the edges.  Transfer to an oven dish and bake for 1 – 1 ½ hours, or until the bread is crisp and the chicken cooked.
8. To check insert a knife into the chicken – it should come out piping hot.

Hints and Tips

You can serve with SPAR Freshline Roasting vegetables.