I’ve been spending a lot of time spatchcocking lately.
Because while it sounds like something that should be X-rated, it’s really just a ridiculously simple and speedy way of roasting a whole chicken. I’ve done it on the grill and in the oven, and every time the results have been moist and delicious.
Here’s how it works. To spatchcock a chicken – or any bird – you simply cut along the centre backbone, starting at the neck and right through to the rump. This cut allows you to then overturn the bird, spread it open and lay it nearly flat in the roasting pan. As a result, it cooks much faster, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner.
While this cut can be done with a good knife, the easiest and safest way to do it is with kitchen shears.
Once cut, the bird can be seasoned as you like. For this recipe, I used a simple but wonderfully aromatic combination of fresh rosemary and a quartered orange.
The recipe is written for the oven, but I’ve also cooked it on the grill. To do this, simply cut and season the chicken as directed. Lay it cut-side down on several layers of foil. Wedge orange quarters around it, then top with fresh rosemary. Wrap the foil tightly around it.
Get breaking National news
Set one side of your grill to high, the other to low. Set the chicken over the low side, cover the grill and cook for 30 minutes. Open the foil a bit at the top, then continue cooking, covered, for another 15 to 25 minutes or until the meat reaches 74 C (165 F) at the thickest part.
Orange-Rosemary Spatchcocked Chicken
Start to finish: 1 hour 20 minutes (5 minutes active)
1 chicken (1.5 to 2.2 kg/3 to 5 lb – larger chickens may need additional cooking time)
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 to 2 medium oranges, quartered
2 to 4 large sprigs fresh rosemary
Heat oven to 200 C (400 F).
Place chicken on cutting board with breast down. Use kitchen shears to carefully cut from neck hole down length of backbone and out the rump. This will require a little effort, but the shears should cut through the bones without difficulty.
Spread open chicken, exposing cavity. Sprinkle inside with salt and pepper. Overturn chicken and place it cavity side down in a roasting pan just a bit larger than the chicken. Gently press chicken to flatten. Season over and under skin with salt and pepper.
Tuck orange quarters into neck and rump of chicken, as well as around legs. Cover tightly with foil and roast for 30 minutes. Uncover and roast for another 30 minutes or until the thickest part of the meat reads 74 C (165 F).
Serve meat accompanied by roasted orange wedges, which can be eaten as is or squeezed over meat.
Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition information per serving. Assumes a 2-kg (4-lb)chicken, with skin removed (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 550 calories; 190 calories from fat; 21 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 250 mg cholesterol; 48 g carbohydrate; 82 g protein; 4 g fibre; 830 mg sodium.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.