Best Crispy Roast Chicken Recipes

LOW-FUSS CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Place a 12" cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet in oven.
• Pull off excess fat around cavities of chicken; discard. Using paper towels, thoroughly pat dry chicken inside and out. Arrange chicken breast side up on a cutting board. Gently loosen skin covering breasts and thighs. Tuck 4 thyme sprigs under loosened skin, 1 sprig for each breast and thigh.
• Combine 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a small bowl. Pat dry cutting board and chicken again, then tie legs together with kitchen twine.
• Using a metal skewer or paring knife, poke 20-30 holes all over chicken, paying special attention to fatty (thickest) parts of skin. Season chicken with salt mixture, placing a pinch inside cavity, but primarily covering outside of bird.
• Cut remaining thyme sprig crosswise into 3-4 pieces and place in a large bowl. Add potatoes, onions, oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, and a generous pinch of pepper. Toss to combine.
• Carefully remove skillet from oven. Transfer potato mixture to skillet (mixture will sizzle), then place chicken, breast side up, on potato mixture. Return skillet to oven (remember, handle is hot!). Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast registers 160°F and thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, 45-55 minutes.
• Remove skillet from oven. Using tongs or a large wooden spoon inserted into cavity, transfer chicken to a large plate. Give potato mixture a stir, then return to oven. Let chicken rest about 5 minutes.
• Using a sharp knife, slash stretched skin between thighs and breasts to let steam escape. Carefully tilt bird and plate over a large bowl to drain juices; reserve juices. Let chicken rest until potatoes are fork-tender, 15-25 minutes more.
• Tilt chicken and plate again over bowl with juices to drain any last bits, then transfer chicken to a cutting board and carve. (If juices have cooled and congealed, gently rewarm over low heat or for 10 seconds in the microwave.)
• Arrange chicken on a platter. Serve with roasted potatoes and onions alongside, spooning juices over.
• Cooks' Note: If time allows, after patting dry and salting chicken, place on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet, or on a V-rack set in a roasting pan, and chill, uncovered, at least 12 hours or up to 2 days. This 'dry brine' will result in a flavorful juicy chicken with even crispier skin.

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Line roasting pan with foil.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position.
• Place roasting pan on rack and heat oven to 475 degrees.
• Coat V rack with cooking spray.
• Combine cornstarch and 2 teaspoons salt in small mixing bowl.
• Poke holes all over chicken skin, using skewer.
• Rub cornstarch mixture evenly over chicken.
• Remove roasting pan from oven.
• Place chicken in V-rack, wing side down.
• Roast for 15 minutes.
• Remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that other wing is facing up.
• Roast another 15 minutes.
• Again remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that breast side is up.
• Roast chicken another 20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from oven and insert chicken on angelfood cake pan or empty soda can.
• Rest for 10 minutes.
• Carve chicken and serve.

CRISPY PARMESAN ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the minced thyme, minced rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Scatter the herb sprigs, lemon and onion wedges, garlic and carrots in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Using poultry shears, cut along both sides of the backbone to remove it. Open the chicken breast-side up and press firmly in the center of the breast to flatten. Sprinkle the salt mixture over both sides of the chicken. Place the chicken on top of the aromatics in the baking dish, tucking the wing tips under, and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
• When ready to roast, position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
• Drizzle the chicken with the olive oil and sprinkle all over with the Parmesan. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a thigh reaches 165 degrees F, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 15 minutes before carving. Serve on a platter with the roasted carrots, lemon, onion and garlic.

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN WITH RIESLING, GRAPES AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 8, 230°C or 450°F.
• First of all, the chicken and the grapes need to be at room temperature, so remove them from the fridge about an hour (half an hour on a hot day) before cooking. Snip off the strings and open out the chicken.
• Reserve four sprigs of tarragon for later, then strip off the leaves and chop them, reserving a tablespoonful. Now cut the grapes in half and finely chop the shallot. Next, in a bowl, combine the shallots, chopped tarragon and about two-thirds of the grapes, then place the whole lot inside the body cavity of the chicken.
• Then season the chicken with salt and pepper and place it in a roasting tin into the lower third of the oven and roast for 1 hour - without opening the door. (Because ovens vary, test the thickest part of the chicken with a skewer and if the juices run clear, it's cooked. If not, give it another 5-10 minutes.).
• What you now need to do is spoon out the grape stuffing and keep on one side. Then put a wooden spoon into the cavity and, using a spatula to hold the breast end, tip the chicken and let all the juices run out into the roasting tin. Transfer the chicken to a carving board and leave in a warm place to rest for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the tin over direct heat, add the wine and let the whole lot bubble and reduce by half - this will take about 5-6 minutes. Then whisk in the creme fraiche, add the stuffing and the rest of the grapes, and let it gently bubble for another 8 minutes. Finally add the reserved chopped tarragon, carve the chicken, spoon the sauce over and garnish with sprigs of tarragon.
• Notes on ingredients: For a 1.76kg chicken it will take an extra 10 minutes and may smoke a little because of the extra fat content but it's nothing to worry about.

CRISPY PARMESAN ROAST CHICKEN WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Finely grate 1 teaspoon zest from the lemon and place it in a small bowl. (Save the zested lemon for the drippings.) Stir in 2 teaspoons salt, pepper, chopped rosemary and red-pepper flakes, if using. Season the chicken inside and out with salt mixture. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes or refrigerate uncovered for up to overnight.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place chicken, breast-side up, in a large skillet, sheet pan or roasting pan. Stuff cavity of chicken with rosemary sprigs. Drizzle breast with a little olive oil.
• Roast chicken for 30 minutes. Sprinkle chicken all over with Parmesan, then continue roasting until bird's juices run clear when skin is pierced with a knife and the skin is golden, 25 to 30 minutes longer.
• Let chicken rest for 10 minutes. Squeeze juice from the zested lemon, to taste, into the pan drippings and season with more salt and red-pepper flakes if you like. Carve and serve with drippings spooned over the meat.

CRISPY SAGE & LEMON ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• The night before, put the chicken in a medium roasting tin. Rub the salt generously over the skin and into the cavity, then grind over some black pepper. Push one half of a lemon into the cavity, then tie the legs together with kitchen string. Cover and chill overnight.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Dab a little of the excess salt from the skin using kitchen paper.
• Mix the butter with the garlic and sage. Push the herby garlic butter under the skin using your hands and rub it over the flesh, making sure it's evenly spread out. Stuff the thyme and bay leaves into the cavity, then put the remaining lemon halves in the tin around the chicken. Roast for 1 hr, then baste the chicken with the buttery juices from the tin. Roast for a further 20-30 mins, or until cooked through. Check the chicken is cooked by inserting a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh - the juices should run clear.
• Transfer the chicken to a board, cover and leave to rest for 20 mins before carving. Slice and serve on a warmed platter.

TOPSY TURVY CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN WITH SALT CRUST SEASONING

Steps:

• Mix all the seasoning mix ingredients together and store in a jar until needed.
• Remove all the wrapping from the chicken and snip the elasticated string that ties the chicken together. Wipe the chicken all over with kitchen paper to dry the skin. Sprinkle a good amount of rock salt over, making sure that you cover all the chicken. Now chill overnight or for at least 8 hours so the salt can draw out any excess moisture.
• Preheat the oven to 190C, 375F or gas mark 5.
• Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking, brush and shake off the excess rock salt.
• Place the chicken in the roasting tin and season inside the cavity. Push the lemon and onion inside with the herbs. These will produce steam and flavour, to keep the chicken moist. Brush the chicken all over with melted butter or olive oil, then season liberally with the rest of the seasoning mix. (The salt makes the skin crispy and the butter will keep the chicken moist.).
• Roast the chicken, breast side up, in the centre of the oven for 1 hour, then carefully remove the chicken, and with two roasting forks to aid you, turn the chicken over, so the breast is underneath now. Continue to cook for a further 30 minutes. Then take the chicken out and turn it over once more, with the breast side up now, and continue to roast for a further 15 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
• To check that it is cooked, pierce the fattest part of the thigh with a fine skewer. If the juices are pink or show traces of blood, cook the chicken a further 10-15 minutes, then check again. If the juices are pale golden, the chicken is cooked.
• Using two forks, lift the chicken from the roasting tin onto a large plate and reserve the cooking juices. Leave for 10 minutes before carving. This allows the juices, which have risen to the surface during cooking, to be reabsorbed into the meat to give a moist texture.
• Cook's tips.
• How to make Gravy.
• Drain all but 3 tbsp of the juices from the roasting tin. Set the roasting tin on a hob and reheat the juices. Sprinkle in 2 tsp of plain flour and stir well with a wooden spoon. Gradually stir in 300ml chicken stock. Bring to the boil, stirring until thickened and smooth. Season well. If the gravy is bland, add a little mustard and a splash of soy sauce. For a special gravy, some of the stock can be replaced with red or white wine.
• Carving the Chicken.
• Hold the chicken steady with a fork, then insert a large sharp knife between the body and leg. Cut off the leg. Divide the leg in half at the joint to give a drumstick and thigh portion. Cut away the wing on the same side. Carve down the breast in thick slices. Repeat on the other side of the chicken.

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put beaten egg in one plate, and mixture of the dry ingredients in another.
• Roll chicken first in the egg, then in the breadcrumb mixture.
• Cook covered for an hour, uncovered for half an hour at about 180C.

WHOLE CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN & ASPARAGUS CAESAR

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Zest the lemon into a bowl. Season the cavity of the chicken, cut the zested lemon in half and push into the cavity. Put the butter in the bowl with the lemon zest, add the garlic and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Mash together, then push under the skin of the breast using your fingers. Season the skin and drizzle with a good glug of olive oil. Roast for 30 mins, then reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and cook the chicken for a further 50 mins-1 hr or until cooked through. Once cooked, cover and rest for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, for the dressing, whisk the egg yolk, anchovies, garlic and Dijon together in a bowl. Gradually whisk in both oils, then whisk in the lemon juice and, if it's a little thick, 50ml warm water, followed by the cheese and a good pinch of seasoning.
• Toss the sourdough pieces with the 1 tbsp olive oil and spread out on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 mins or until golden.
• Bring a pan of lightly salted water to the simmer. Add the asparagus and cook for 2-3 mins. Drain and leave to steam-dry for a few minutes.
• Carve the chicken. Remove both legs and cut the breast into 1cm slices. Arrange on a platter with the asparagus. Top with the croutons, two-thirds of the dressing (save the rest for leftovers - see tip below), the shaved parmesan and a grinding of black pepper.

CRISPY CHINESE ROAST CHICKEN IN A BUNDT PAN!

Steps:

• Mix together soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, sesame oil, mustard, ginger, garlic and pepper to make marinade in small bowl. Place chicken in medium bowl and pour marinade over it. Cover; place in refrigerator and marinate at least 1 hour. Turn occasionally to coat all sides.
• Place chicken (Legs Down), on a center stem of the stoneware bundt pan. Pour 1/4 cup beer in pan filling with more as it evaporates if needed. Place in 350 degree oven roast until chicken is dark-brown about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Till 165° to 170°F cook until juices run clear. Rest for 15-20 minutes. Serve hot, or refrigerate and serve cold.

CRISPY ROSEMARY ROAST CHICKEN AND POTATOES

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 425 degree. Place onions in large shallow roasting pan. Slip fingers under skin of chicken over breast meat to make a pocket. Spread 2 Tbs of the butter under skin in pocket; arrange rosemary sprigs over butter under skin in pocket. 2. Tuck wings behind back; place chicken, breast-side up, over onions. Spread remaining 2 Tbs over outside of chicken; sprinkle with 1tsp of the salt and 1/2 tsp of the pepper. Sprinkle with 2 Tbs of the chopped rosemary, pressing lightly to adhere. 3. Bake 20 minutes. Turn chick breast-side down. Arrange potatoes around chicken; sprinkle potatoes with remaining 1 Tbs chopped rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. 4. Bake an additional 20 minutes. Turn chicken breast-side up; stir potatoes and onions. Bake an additional 20 minutes or until internal temperature of thickest part of thigh reaches 170-175 degrees. Let stand in warm place 10 minutes before carving. Serve with potatoes and onions.

LEMON & ROSEMARY ROAST CHICKEN WITH CRISPY POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cut the potatoes into 2 mouthful-sized chunks and put in a large pan of salted water. Bring to the boil, cook for 5 mins, then drain. Meanwhile, place the olive oil in a really large, sturdy roasting tin and heat for 5 mins. Tip the potatoes in and cook for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, peel the zest from the lemon (a vegetable peeler is great for this) and slice it finely. Mix it with the sea salt. Place the chicken on a board with the legs pointing towards you, and undo any string tied around. Lift up the skin around the cavity and work your fingers under the skin over the breast and legs, easing it away from the flesh. Push the salty shreds of lemon rind under the skin, spreading it as evenly as possible, followed by four sprigs of rosemary, one on each leg and one on each breast. Then put one sprig inside the bird along with the peeled lemon.
• Take the tin out of the oven, give the potatoes a good shake, and then arrange them so you can fit a rack over the roasting tin. Then place the chicken upside down on the rack and roast for 20 mins. Turn the chicken over and turn potatoes, coating them in the fat that's run off the bird. Return to the oven and roast for another 20 mins, then turn the potatoes again and cook for another 20-30 mins, until the chicken juices run clear.
• Remove the roasting tin from the oven and put the chicken on a serving platter, covering it with foil to keep it warm. Leave to rest for 20 mins. Meanwhile, scoop the potatoes into an ovenproof dish and return to the oven to finish crisping up. Pour away the fat from the roasting tin, then put the tin on the hob over a low to medium heat. Add half the stock, then bring to simmering point, stirring and scraping up the brown residue. Boil, reducing until darker and syrupy. Add the rest of the stock, and bring to simmering point again, bubbling to reduce it. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pour through a sieve into a warmed gravy jug.
• Pile the potatoes around the chicken, and garnish with remaining rosemary sprigs. Serve with gravy and braised lettuce.
• Freezing: Freeze the chicken at the end of step 2, for up to a month. Defrost thoroughly before continuing with the recipe.

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN AND POTATOES

Steps:

• 1. Line roasting pan with foil, letting foil come up sides of pan. Adjust oven rack to middle position (8 to 10 inches from broiler element), place roasting pan on rack, and heat oven to 475 degrees. Coat V-rack with cooking spray. 2. Combine cornstarch and 2 teaspoons salt in small bowl. Use skewer to poke holes all over chicken skin. Rub cornstarch mixture evenly over chicken. 3. Remove roasting pan from oven. Place chicken, wing side up, in V-rack, then place V-rack in roasting pan Roast chicken 15 minutes. Remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that other wing is facing up. Roast 15 minutes. 4. Meanwhile toss potatoes, oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Remove roasting pan from oven and, with potholder, carefully transfer V-rack with chicken to rimmed baking sheet. Gather up foil by its corners, capturing any fat and juices, and discard. Arrange potatoes, cut side down, in roasting pan. Using wad of paper towels, flip chicken breast side up in V-rack. Place V-rack back in roasting pan (photo 2) and roast chicken until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 170 degrees, about 20 minutes. 5. Using wad of paper towels, remove chicken from V-rack and pour juices from cavity into roasting pan with potatoes. Place chicken on angel-food-cake pan insert or empty soda can to rest upright for 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, toss potatoes in chicken juices (photo 3), return to oven, and cook until well browned and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Carve chicken and serve with potatoes.

STINKY POLENTA, ROAST CHICKEN, CRISPY KALE, RED WINE BALSAMIC DEMI

Steps:

• For the roast chicken: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Put a cast-iron pan over high heat until hot. Coat the pan with olive oil, add the chicken skin-side down and cook until the skin is crispy, about 7 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet fitted with a rack. Roast until cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes depending on size.
• For the red wine balsamic demi: In a saucepan over high heat, add a little olive oil. Add the thyme, bay leaves, carrots, celery and onions and sweat the vegetables about 5 minutes. Deglaze with the red wine, then add the balsamic and dark chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Add the tomato paste and reduce to a simmer. Add the sugar and simmer to reduce the sauce to a glaze consistency, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain and reserve.
• For the stinky polenta: Bring the dark chicken stock to a boil in a saucepan. Using a whisk, slowly incorporate the polenta into the stock, stirring vigorously. When fully incorporated, lower the heat to simmer. Cook, stirring frequently to make sure the polenta doesn't burn, until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
• For the crispy kale: Pour enough canola oil into a large heavy-bottomed saucepan to come about a third of the way up. Heat the oil until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 325 degrees F.
• Add the julienned kale to the oil and fry about 2 minutes; the kale should still be very green and crisp, not brown at all. Drain on paper towels and set aside for garnish.
• To finish the polenta: Add the butter, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano-Reggiano, mascarpone and additional water or the chicken cooking juices if needed. Finish with the white truffle oil and add salt and pepper to taste.
• To plate, spoon about 3 tablespoons of the glaze into 5 wide bowls. Put some polenta on top. Slice each chicken breast and put on top of the polenta. Garnish with crispy kale and serve.

CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN WITH SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Coat chicken with coating mix; place in 13x9-inch pan. Bake 30 min.
• Meanwhile, prick each potato several times with fork. Microwave on HIGH 2 to 3 min. or just until sliceable but not soft. Cut into spears; toss with dressing and cheese.
• Add potatoes to baking dish with chicken. Bake 30 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF) and potatoes are tender.

CRISPY BUTTERFLIED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• To Make the Chicken
• Butterfly the Chicken: Over the sink, remove the giblets from the chicken, if there are any (they are usually tucked into the cavity). Reserve all but the liver. (Discard the liver or reserve it for another use.) Hold the chicken over the drain and let any juices run out.
• Set the chicken breast side down on a cutting board. Using poultry shears, kitchen scissors, or a sturdy knife, cut down along one side of the backbone, starting at the neck and cutting through the ribs on each side. You may need to apply a little extra muscle where the thigh joint meets the backbone. If you wiggle the shears around, you can sometimes find the cartilage that holds the joint in place and snip right through it. If not, just keep at it until you chop clear through the bone. Repeat along the other side of the backbone, so the backbone comes away in a narrow strip. Cut the backbone into 2-inch pieces and reserve it along with the giblets. If you have them. Pull off and discard any large lumps of fat attached to the underside of the chicken. Cut away any excess of loose skin near the neck.
• Flip the chicken over so it's breast side up. With the heels of your hands, press heavily on the breastbone to crack it slightly; you may need to lean your full body weight into it. Once cracked, the chicken should lie relatively flat and its legs should be situated so the "knees"-the joints between the thighs and the drumsticks-are facing inward, giving the chicken a knock-kneed appearance. If they have flopped outward, reorient them. Push each wing tip up over the top of the breast, folding and tucking the wing behind the "shoulder." Pat the chicken dry all over with paper towels.
• Season the chicken: Presalt the chicken, if you like and season with black pepper. If not presalting, season the chicken generously all over with salt and black pepper just before roasting.
• Heat the oven: Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 450 degrees (425 degrees convection). Let the chicken sit at room temperature for about 40 minutes while the oven heats. (This is less time than for a whole chicken because the butterflied bird warms up faster.)
• Roast the chicken: Put the backbone and the reserved giblets on a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet or ill a shallow roasting pan large enough to hold the bird without crowding or leaving too much space around it (about 10 by 15 inches). Set a flat roasting rack over them and lay the chicken on the rack, breast side up. (If you don't have a flat roasting rack, place the chicken directly on the baking sheet with the backbone and giblets around the edges.) Roast. If the drippings seem to be getting too dark or start to scorch during roasting, pour about ½ cup of water into the pan. Continue roasting until the skin is crisp and well browned in spots, the juices run almost clear when you prick the breast, and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh (without touching bone) registers 170 degrees, about 50 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board (preferably one with a trough to collect juices) to rest for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Make a quick pan sauce, if you like: Pour any juices from the pan into a small saucepan, discarding the backbone and giblets. (If a lot of browned bits are stuck to the roasting pan, add the wine or vermouth to the pan and scrape with a wooden spoon to dislodge. If they still won't come up, heat the roasting pan over medium heat to dissolve the drippings.) Bring the juices in the saucepan to a boil, whisking. Taste the sauce; if it tastes a little flat, add a few drops of lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Carve and serve: Halve the chicken by cutting straight down the center of the breastbone. Next cut each whole leg (thigh and drumstick) away from each breast half and cut the legs into thighs and drumsticks. Cut each breast half crosswise in half, leaving the wing assembly attached to the upper portion. When finished, you will have 8 pieces. Pour any juices from the cutting board into the pan sauce, if making. Drizzle a few teaspoons of sauce-you won't have much, just enough to anoint the meat-over the chicken and serve.
• To Make the Romesco Sauce
• Heat the oven: Position racks in the lower and upper thirds of the oven and heat to 375 degrees (350 degrees convection).
• Roast the vegetables: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the garlic, peppers, and tomatoes on the baking sheet and drizzle with 1½ teaspoons olive oil. Season lightly with salt and toss to coat. Slide the vegetables onto the top rack and roast, turning them with tongs once or twice during roasting, until the vegetables have dark spots on them, the tomatoes have split, and the peppers have begun to collapse, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer the peppers to a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap to steam until cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes. Let the garlic and tomatoes cool on the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile toast the bread and almonds: Drizzle the bread slices on all sides with about 1½ teaspoons olive oil and place directly on the top oven rack to toast until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Spread the almonds on a small rimmed baking sheet and place on the lower rack to toast until lightly browned and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Let the bread and nuts cool.
• Peel and seed the peppers: Working over a bowl to catch any juices, peel the skin from the peppers. (Resist rinsing them, as that will wash away some flavor.) Once peeled, gently tear the stem and core away from the flesh of each pepper and discard the stem and seeds. (Don't obsess over removing every last seed and/or charred bit.) Drop the peppers into the bowl of a food processor. Add any collected juices, straining the juices if necessary to remove seeds or skin.
• Puree the sauce: Break the toasted bread into bite-sized pieces and add it to the food processor. Slide the garlic cloves out of their skins and add them. Pinch off the tomato skins and add the tomatoes to the food processor too. Add the almonds, vinegar, piménton, red pepper flakes, and ¾ teaspoon salt. Pulse to a coarse puree. With the machine running, add the remaining ¼ cup olive oil; process just long enough to incorporate the oil, as overprocessing can turn the sauce bitter. Season to taste with salt. Don't be shy with the salt-this sauce should be bold.
• Serve or store: Serve warm or at room temperature. The sauce will keep, covered tightly in the refrigerator, for at least a week. Reheat it gently in a saucepan or let come to room temperature before serving. Taste before serving, as refrigeration can mute the flavors. If it tastes at all bland, add a splash of sherry vinegar and a pinch of salt.
• Notes
• *Method: High heat* Plan ahead: For the best-tasting, juiciest chicken, presalt the bird (after butterflying it) at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours ahead.* Wine: For white, go with a well-oaked chardonnay; for red, choose a fruity young California or Oregon Pinot Noir or Beaujolais Villages.
• More About This Recipe
• If I had to pick one way to roast a chicken for the rest of my life, this might well be it. Butterflying the bird and flattening it before it goes in the pan may add an additional step, but the payoff is enormous. Not only does the chicken cook more evenly-and more quickly-but all of the skin, even the skin on the tops of the thighs, becomes gorgeously crispy. To get the most benefit from the technique, use a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet or a low-sided roasting pan. A deep pan will shield the chicken from the hot oven heat and prevent the skin from browning evenly. As for a roasting rack, you have a choice. A flat rack does promote crisp skin all the way to the very edges of the chicken, but in my experience, the difference between using a rack and not using one is incremental. Both methods give you a handsomely browned chicken with plenty of crisp skin to go around.
• Removing the backbone leaves you with the basis for a good pan sauce, as you can roast the backbone (and any giblets that came with the bird) alongside the chicken. The meaty bits caramelize during roasting and enrich the pan drippings, and then it's simply a matter of adding a little dry white wine or vermouth to the pan while the chicken rests. Keep in mind that this isn't a fancy or developed sauce, merely a little savory goodness to drizzle over each serving. And it certainly doesn't preclude the addition of a more substantial sauce or condiment, such as the full-flavored Romesco Sauce that follows. When it comes to serving, you will discover another reason to love butterflied roast chicken: Carving is a breeze.
• Romesco sauce, a thick, smoky, brick-red puree featuring roasted red peppers, is one of my favorite accompaniments to roast chicken. Closer to a pesto than a long-simmered sauce, it originated in Spain, in the region of Catalonia. For my version, I roast red bell peppers along with a couple of ripe tomatoes and a few garlic cloves. These are then pureed with toasted slices of crusty bread and almonds, which impart the characteristic coarse, nutty texture. Serve the sauce warm or at room temperature, spooned onto plates alongside carved chicken, or pass a bowl of it at the table. It's also good with roasted vegetables, pork, and fish, tossed with pasta, and as a sandwich spread.
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