SWEDISH ROAST CHICKEN WITH SPICED APPLE RICE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
• Blanch the sweet potato in boiling water for two minutes, then drain, rinse in cold water and drain again.
• In a medium bowl, combine sweet potato, onion, apples, shallots, garlic, thyme and mint.
• Combine the 2 tablespoons of water and the olive oil and add to the vegetable mixture, tossing to coat.
• With a mortar and pestle (or with the back of a heavy skillet against a cutting board) lightly crush the cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, cloves, black and white peppercorns (you can use all black if that's what you have) with the teaspoon of kosher salt.
• Add half the spice mixture to the vegetables and reserve the rest.
• Rinse the chicken inside and out and pat dry with paper towels.
• Remove all the excess fat.
• Lightly stuff the bird's cavity with about half the vegetable mixture and tie the bird's legs together with kitchen string.
• Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and rub it all over with the reserved spice mixture.
• Scatter the remaining vegetable mixture around the chicken.
• Roast for about one hour.
• Remove the vegetables that are loose in the pan and set aside in a bowl.
• Continue roasting for another 30 minutes or until your meat thermometer, inserted in the thigh, reaches 160°F.
• During this time, if the pan becomes too dry, add water a few tablespoons at a time.
• Transfer chicken to a board, remove stuffing and add it to the other vegetables, and cover the chicken loosely with foil.
• Keep the vegetables warm.
• Place the roasting pan over heat on the stove top and add the water and stock or white wine.
• Bring liquid to a boil, stirring and scraping to deglaze the pan.
• Pour the liquid into a measuring cup, degreasing as best you can.
• Pour about 1/2 of a cup of the liquid into a sauceboat and keep warm.
• Add, if necessary, water to the remaining de-glazing liquid so that you have one cup.
• Combine the rice, one cup of water, one cup of deglazing liquid and the salt in a medium saucepan.
• Bring to a boil over high heat.
• As soon as the rice boils, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook the rice till done, about 18 minutes.
• Remove from heat and fold rice together with 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of the yogurt and the reserved vegetables.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Combine the remaining yogurt with the pan juices in the sauce boat.
• Carve the chicken and serve with rice, passing the sauceboat for those who need a little extra liquid.