CRISPY SKIN CHICKEN WITH DILL AND GARLIC SAUCE

Crispy Skin Chicken with Dill and Garlic Sauce image

Quickly shallow-frying the chicken halves in shallot oil after they've been roasted locks in their juices and results in beautiful golden brown and crispy skin. Served with garlicky boiled potatoes, then topped with crunchy fried shallots and lots of fresh dill, this dish is perfect to welcome spring.

Provided by Kat Boytsova

Categories Chicken Garlic Pepper Shallot Potato Dill Fry Spring Passover Entertaining Easter Wheat/Gluten-Free Dairy Free

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 (3 1/2-4-lb.) chickens, backbones removed, halved through the breastbone
1 1/2 tsp. plus 2 Tbsp. kosher salt; plus more
3 heads of garlic, cloves separated, peeled
3 cups vegetable or other neutral oil, divided
3 Tbsp. Aleppo-style pepper
3 large shallots, thinly sliced
2 1/2 lb. new potatoes, halved, quartered if large
1/2 cup coarsely chopped dill
Special Equipment
A deep-fry thermometer

Steps:

Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 325°F. Pat chicken halves dry with paper towels and season generously all over with salt. Arrange, skin side up, on 2 wire racks set inside 2 baking sheets so that you have 2 chicken halves on each rack. Roast chickens, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until just golden and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breasts registers 150°F, 45-50 minutes.
Meanwhile, pulse garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Heat 1 cup oil in a small saucepan over medium until shimmering. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and slightly darker, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl. Stir in Aleppo-style pepper and 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Set garlic oil aside for serving.
Fit a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot with deep-fry thermometer. Heat remaining 2 cups vegetable oil over medium-high until thermometer registers 350°F. Fry shallots, stirring often, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Using a fine-mesh sieve or spider, transfer shallots to paper towels to drain; season with salt. Remove pot from heat if chicken hasn't finished roasting yet.
As soon as chickens are done, remove from oven and lightly dab with paper towels to remove as much moisture from the underside as possible (this will prevent them from spattering too much when you put them in the hot oil). Reheat shallot oil to 350°F if needed. Working with 1 half at a time and maintaining oil temperature between batches, fry chickens, skin side down, until skin is crisp and deeply browned, 6-8 minutes. Transfer to clean wire racks as you go; season lightly with salt.
Meanwhile, combine potatoes and 2 Tbsp. salt in another large pot and pour in cold water to cover by 1". Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are very tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 10-15 minutes, depending on size of potatoes. Drain and return potatoes to the same pot. Gently press down on potatoes to break up slightly. Add 1/3 cup reserved garlic oil, season with salt, and toss to combine.
Transfer potatoes to a small platter. Drizzle with some more garlic oil. Cut chicken halves into pieces and arrange on a large platter. Drizzle chicken with some garlic oil, then sprinkle dill and fried shallots over. Serve with any remaining garlic oil alongside.