Ina Garten's Perfect Roast Chicken
***Susan' Note: I have made this meal countless times in the past few months, using a 3-4 pound organic whole chicken from Wegmans. (Because of the slightly smaller chicken, I modify the recipe accordingly, using half a lemon and less garlic.) I love using baby carrots, onions, and sometimes potatoes (I skip the fennel). I do modify the temperature a bit - in my oven, I cook the 3-4 pound bird for 20 minutes at 460 degrees, then 40 minutes at 420 degrees. I have used dried thyme in place of the fresh. YUMMY!
Ingredients
1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs
1 lemon, halved
1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted
1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced
4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks
1 bulb of fennel, tops removed, and cut into wedges
Olive oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and
out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry.
Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the
bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic. Brush the outside of
the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the
legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the
chicken. Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with
salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of
the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.
Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run
clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables
to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the
chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.