Best Five Spice Soy Lemon Roast Chicken Recipes

CHINESE FIVE SPICE CHICKEN (五香烤鸡)

Steps:

• Place the chicken over a large tray with the breasts down and the legs towards you. Find its backbone in the middle. Use kitchen scissors/shears to cut along both sides of the backbone, separating it from the ribs (see images for reference in the post above).
• Flip over the chicken so that the breasts are facing up. Use the palm of your hand to firmly push the middle of the chicken until it's completely flattened.
• Pat dry the whole chicken with kitchen paper to remove any moisture.
• Mix salt, five spice powder, garlic powder and white pepper in a bowl. Rub half of the mixture over the cavity side.
• Flip over the chicken. Mix dark soy sauce and Shaoxing rice wine. Rub it over the skin side. Then spread the rest of the dry mix. Massage to evenly distribute.
• Leave to rest uncovered in the fridge overnight (12-24 hours).
• One hour before cooking, take the chicken out of the fridge and allow it to come back to room temperature.
• Preheat a fan-assisted oven at 390F°/200C°, or 425F°/220C° if using a conventional oven.
• Use a roasting tray with a wire rack that fits inside. Fill the tray with some water (lower than the rack) and put the chicken on the rack (skin facing up). Place the tray in the middle of the oven. Leave to cook for 15 minutes.
• Turn the oven down to 320F°/160C° (or 350F°/180C° if using a conventional oven). Continue cooking for a further 20 minutes. If your chicken is a little bigger or smaller, increase or reduce the time by 5 minutes or so (Check the water level in the tray and top up if necessary).
• Take out the chicken. Mix honey and soy sauce then brush a thin layer over the skin. Put back into the oven. Cook for another 5 minutes.
• Turn the heat back up to 390F°/200C° (or 425F°/220C° for a conventional oven). Take out the chicken and brush a second time. Roast for 5 more minutes to finish.
• Check the doneness (see footnote to learn how). Then take the chicken out and leave to rest for 10 minutes before carving into small pieces to serve.

LEMON & FIVE-SPICE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Juice 1 lemon and cut the other into slices. Put in a large food bag along with remaining ingredients and shake well to coat. leave for 10 mins (or up to 24 hrs if making ahead).
• Heat the grill to high or fire up the barbecue. lift the chicken out of the marinade, shake off excess, then cook under a grill or on a barbecue for 20 mins, spooning over the marinade every few mins. Turn occasionally, until cooked through and dark golden brown. Great served with new potatoes and a green salad.

CHINESE FIVE-SPICE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the chicken pieces in a large dish or plastic bag.
• Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over the chicken.
• Marinate refrigerated overnight or for 1 to 2 hours if time is short.
• Transfer the chicken to a baking dish and brush with the marinade.
• Cook uncovered in a preheated 350F (180C) oven, brushing once or twice with the marinade, until the chicken is done, about one hour.

SOY-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow dish large enough to hold the chicken, mix the soy sauce, peanut and sesame oils and Sherry. Add the garlic, salt, ginger and 5-spice powder. Mix well. Rub the chicken inside and out with the mixture. Marinate, lightly covered, for at least 2 hours, and up to 24 hours, in the refrigerator, basting and turning frequently.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and wipe well to remove the marinade. Place the chicken in a roasting pan. Strain the marinade through a sieve; discard the solids and spoon the liquid over the chicken. Place the pan in the oven and roast for 45 to 50 minutes, basting frequently, or until a meat thermometer registers 158 to 160 degrees when inserted in the thigh. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 3 minutes before serving.

ROAST SPICED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, mix the first 5 ingredients. In a small saucepan, melt butter; stir in lemon juice, mustard, paprika and garlic salt. Keep warm., Sprinkle half the thyme mixture inside chicken; if desired, place quartered lemon inside chicken. Place chicken on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. Tuck wings under chicken; tie drumsticks together., Brush outside of chicken with 1/2 cup butter mixture; sprinkle with remaining thyme mixture. Roast 1 hour, basting every 15 minutes with remaining butter mixture. (Cover loosely with foil if chicken browns too quickly.), Roast until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, 30-60 minutes longer. Remove chicken from oven; tent with foil. Let stand 15 minutes before carving.