How to cook garlic and lemon chicken

jewlls

Hi,
Might be a daft a question but have never cooked this before and would like to try it.

I have bought a whole small chicken now do I put the garlic and lemon actually inside the bird or do I lay the chicken on top off the garlic and lemon

Thank you for any help

katkin

You can do both or either depending how strong you want the flavour to come through.

If you put it on the base it's easier to use the juices to make a sauce / gravy. In the cavity of the chicken it tends to be more of a subtle infused flavour.

jewlls

Thank you for your quick reply how much garlic and lemon would you recommend
Would I have to peel the garlic or do I just cut it in half

katkin

For a plain roast chicken where I'm not looking for a special sauce/gravy and just some extra flavour in the meat I'd use one lemon halved and a head of garlic halved in the bird cavity. However it's up to you and what you have available, anything is ok. Depending on the sauce / reduction I'll put from 3+ lemons halved and numerous garlic bulbs cut up.

It all depends on how strong you want it to taste and what else you are making with the roast. I love garlic and lemon with a roast chicken so I likely put a lot in...if you are just looking for subtle flavour, less may be more.

This is one of these trail and error things..

meritaten

snap katkin!
yes it really depends on how strongly you want the flavour to come through.
personally, I like it subtle so use just one lemon (quartered), and half the head of garlic. so as not to waste the garlic, I force apart the garlic bulb then crush half the cloves with the base of a saucepan. then put into the cavity. Peel left on!
I love this with new potatoes and a summer salad. I also sometimes put a few sprigs of fresh thyme in the cavity too.
Oh, and if you roast your carrots in the same tin............they taste awesome!

Marktheshark

I find just using pre cut breast meat makes a better flavoured chicken.
Start by butterflying the chicken by cutting sideways through the breast and stopping just short enough so it can be opened in to two halves but remain joined.

Heat some olive oil in a pan and on medium low cook for 4-5 minutes each side turning twice.
Take the chicken out and and let it cool for a few minutes in the centre apply very generous amounts of garlic butter to the cut side and fold back up.
Place the breasts on individual sheets of foil.

Mix some chopped dill in lemon juice and pour on the folded breast.
Leave some extra in a sauce pan
Wrap in foil, place in the oven for 15 minutes on mark 4
Make your mash and choice of veg.

Unwrap the breast put on the plate and slice on a angle in to about 6 pieces leaving the chicken folded.

The garlic butter should run out and great you , the chicken will have a golden tan of tangy lemon with sweet dill with a soft warm garlic centre.
You can serve some extra lemon and dill from the saucepan according to taste.

For me the flavour separation is everything, that almost crisp zest bite, the sweet dill taking over and then that warm garlic butter hits those taste buds,
Some nice mash with a cheeky cheese triangle in !
Naughty but nice !

jewlls

They sound wonderful carnt wait to try it out
My mouths watering already

Stevie_Palimo

I'd just shove a whole lemon inside cut into two and use garlic salt on the chicken itself.

Islandmaid

I make a garlic butter with the lemon zest and garlic and push the mix under the chicken skin then I juice the lemon over the chicken with salt and pepper to taste, and shove the lemon halves up its bum.

All the suggestions sound great - good luck, I,m sure it will be delicious X

Isabella_Sinclair

I cant wait to try this out in my new kitchen i just got from kitchens manchester .org
I love lemon and garlic chicken just hope it doesnt make to much mess. goto keep the kitchen clean for the guests to wow over. Im so excited.

Heat some olive oil in a pan and on medium low cook for 4-5 minutes each side turning twice.
Take the chicken out and and let it cool for a few minutes in the centre apply very generous amounts of garlic butter to the cut side and fold back up.
Place the breasts on individual sheets of foil.

Mix some chopped dill in lemon juice and pour on the folded breast.
Leave some extra in a sauce pan
Wrap in foil, place in the oven for 15 minutes on mark 4
Make your mash and choice of veg.

Unwrap the breast put on the plate and slice on a angle in to about 6 pieces leaving the chicken folded