ANDRé SOLTNER'S ROAST CHICKEN

André Soltner's Roast Chicken image

"I can only roast chicken the way I roast chicken," the chef André Soltner told The Times's Molly O'Neill in 1991. Mr. Soltner, then the chef of the celebrated Lutece in Manhattan, was explaining a controversial step in his recipe for the bird, which results in marvelously juicy, flavorful meat. When the internal temperature of the bird has come up to around 158 degrees on a meat thermometer, he adds a teaspoon of water to the roasting pan, turns off the heat of the oven, and allows the chicken to steam gently for three minutes. "For the soft breast," he said. Thyme, tarragon and onion, along with a shower of salt and pepper and just a little butter, do the rest of the work. Amazingly, perhaps, the skin stays crisp. It's a method well worth trying.

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Categories dinner, roasts, times classics, main course

Time 1h

Yield At least two servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2 sprigs fresh thyme
3 sprigs fresh tarragon, removing and reserving the leaves of 1 sprig
2 small white onions, halved
1 poussin or small chicken (about 20 ounces)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons peanut oil
2 sprigs fresh parsley
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
1 tablespoon butter

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the thyme, 2 of the tarragon sprigs, the parsley sprigs and onions in the cavity of the chicken; season inside and out with the salt and pepper.
On the stove, heat a roasting pan over high heat. Add the peanut oil and the chicken and brown on all sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove from the heat and place in the oven. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, basting frequently, or until a meat thermometer reaches between 158 and 160 degrees when inserted in the thigh.
Immediately drop 1 teaspoon of water in the roasting pan, close the oven door and turn off the heat. After 3 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and place the bird on a platter. Carefully drain the fat from the pan and place on top of the stove over medium heat. Add the wine and, using a wooden spoon, scrape the pan well. Add the chicken broth, the reserved tarragon leaves and the parsley. Simmer for 2 minutes and then remove from heat. Whisk in the butter and serve immediately over the chicken.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 661, UnsaturatedFat 31 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 49 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 38 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 1031 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams