How To Make Persian Chicken
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How To Make Persian Chicken
- Serves:
- 4 to 6
- Oven Temperature:
- 190° c - 370° f
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
- 1 ½ kg chicken, cleaned
- Juice of 2 lemons
- Juice of 2 oranges
- 1 ½ onions
- 100 g butter
- 40 g seedless raisins
- 180 g prunes, stoned
- 180 g dried apricots, diced
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 55 g pine kernels
- 1 ½ tsp ground sumac (optional)
- 1 mixing bowl
- 3 small bowls
- 1 large spoon for mixing
- 1 heavy based saucepan with lid
- 1 wooden spoon
- 1 chopping board
- 1 brush
- 1 roasting tray
- 1 skewer or sharp knife
- 1 blender or a big knife
- String
Step 2: Preheat the oven
Set the temperature of the oven at 190ºC, that's 375ºF or gas mark 5.
Step 3: Prepare and cook the onions
Slice the onions finely. Melt half the butter in the saucepan, add the onion and sweat for a few minutes until soft.
Step 4: Add apricots, prunes and raisins
Meanwhile, drain the raisins, prunes and dried apricots and add them to the onion in the pan. Mix together and cook gently, for a few more minutes until fairly dry.
Step 5: Add the spices
Add the cinnamon, season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Add the pine kernels and then set aside to cool.
Step 6: Blend the mix
When cold, pulse in a blender or roughly chop with a knife.
Step 7: Prepare the chicken
Place the chicken on the chopping board and carefully pull the skin away from the flesh to reveal a cavity. Stuff the dried fruit mixture evenly between the skin and the flesh. Pull the skin gently back over the filling until it fits well again.
Step 8: Tie the chicken up
Prepare a piece of string of about 60cm long and tie the chicken beginning at the front and finishing at the bottom.
Step 9: Season the chicken
Melt the remaining butter and brush it evenly over the chicken. Season with salt and pepper. If using the sumac, sprinkle it over the chicken now then place it in a roasting tray together with the left over butter.
Step 10: Cook the chicken
Place the chicken in the centre of the oven and roast for 20-25 minutes.
Reduce the temperature to 170ºC, 340ºF or gas mark 3 and cook for a further hour.
Step 11: Test the chicken
Insert a sharp knife into the thickest part of the thigh of the chicken. If the juices run clear then it is fully cooked. If not, leave it to cook for a few minutes more and check again
Step 12: Remove from the oven
Take the roasted chicken out of the oven and remove the string.
Step 13: Serve
Pour the juices from cooking over the chicken to act as a sauce and serve immediately.
Tips & Comments
By the way, we ALWAYS stuff the cavity and not under the skin!
I'm Persian and we never make chicken this way!!!!!!
seems delicious but the color of the chicken looks burn... is there anyway not to burn the skin of the chicken? thanks for posting anyway, will try this dish soon.
Stuffing inside the chicken is to flavor the stuffing. Under the skin is to flavor the meat. ps. Sumac will make skin APPEAR burnt... it isn't
I wonder why the fruit isn't put into the chicken cavity like regular stuffing? Any input? Would it be too greasy that way or something? Just seems easier . . . but I don't know because I haven't tried this. It looks yummy!
haha...this chicken is black :o)
I have to say this is a delicious meal indeed my family loved it..It's not burnt! If u don't like the colour don't use (sumac) .Pls do try it I bet y'll love it too as we did .thks to everyone envolved in making this most delicious meal
oh dear
Cremated !
A lot of effort, not enough reward