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Lemon-Thyme Roast Chicken

Makes 8 servings

A roast chicken that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside is hard to beat.

  • Preparation time: 15 minutes/ Cooking time: 1 hour
1 whole roasting chicken (5 to 6 lbs/25 to 3 kg) 1
4 cloves garlic, minced 4
l/4 cup olive oil 50 mL
2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme 25 mL
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 5 ml
  grated zest and juice of 1 lemon  
  salt  
  1. Prepare chicken by trimming excess fat from body or cavity. Rinse inside and out under cold running water and pat dry.
  2. In a bowl large enough to hold the chicken, whisk together garlic, olive oil, thyme, pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt to taste. Place chicken in bowl and turn to coat completely, inside and out. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. Preheat oven to 45O°F (230°C) and remove top rack.
  3. Place chicken on rack in roasting pan and baste with marinade. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°F (19O°C) and roast for 11/2 to 2 hours (depending on the size of the chicken) or until skin is dark golden and crispy drumsticks wiggle when touched, and a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh registers 185°F (85°C). Remove from oven and let rest, tented with foil, for 10 to 15 minutes before carving. (This allows the juices to redistribute and provides a much moister chicken.

© Simply Great Food. Dietitians of Canada. 2007. Published by Robert Rose Inc.

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Tips

Using a V-shaped rack is an excellent and healthy way to roast chicken. The open cavity of the chicken is placed over the rack, allowing the chicken to roast upright. lt you don’t have a V-shaped rack, you can just place the chicken in the roasting pan. However, the overall result is better with the rack - the chicken skin crisps all around, and any excess fat drips off into the pan.

Variations

Try other seasoning combinations for this roast chicken. Make it intemational by using Marrakech Rub, tandoori paste or a mixture of hoisin and chili sauces. Fora onedish meal, add cubed root vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, potatoes and turnips, around the chicken for the last hour of cooking. For the last 10 minutes of cooking, add apple or pear slices.

Serving Idea

For a great Sunday dinner add Oven-Roasted Lemon Potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Nutrients per serving

Calories 233
Fat 14.5 g
Saturated Fat 3.3 g
Sodium 74 mg
Protein 24 g
Carbohydrate 2 g
Fiber 0 g

Very High in: niacin, vitamin B6

High in: pantothenic acid, zinc

Source of: vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B12, magnesium, iron

Diabetes Food Choice Values Per Serving:
4 1/2 Meat & Alternatives

Copyright © Dietitians of Canada 2012. All rights reserved.