CHICKEN IN A WATERMELON
"Consider the madness of roasting a hen inside a hollowed-out watermelon with soy sauce and a lemon," Rozanne Gold wrote in 1994, when she brought this recipe to The Times, part of a roundup of April Fools' Day recipes. It's an unconventional recipe, with roots in Hawaii and meant to surprise. (Step 5 encourages cooks to show the full chicken and watermelon to guests before carving.) Do, as one commenter suggests, and have someone on hand to record the reactions. And what to do with the leftover watermelon pulp? Take Gold's advice. "With some sugar, champagne and a little imagination, it makes a decent sorbet."
Provided by Rozanne Gold
Categories appetizer
Time 5h
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cut a 1/4-inch-thick horizontal slice off bottom of watermelon, so it won't roll. Discard. Cut off the top third of the melon horizontally, then scoop out seeds and enough of the pulp from both remaining parts to make room for the chicken.
- Season cavity of chicken with salt and pepper. Insert lemon pricked with fork, along with 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce. Brush outside of chicken with remaining soy sauce, and sprinkle with five-spice powder.
- Place chicken in the larger part of the melon, and position the other piece of melon on top, securing with long skewers.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and bake 2 hours. Then, reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake 2 1/2 hours longer.
- Place watermelon on a tray and show it to guests. Return it to kitchen: remove chicken and carve. With a ladle, remove juices from watermelon and reduce in skillet until thickened; whisk in cold butter and spoon over chicken before serving
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farhan rashka
[email protected]I'm not sure what went wrong, but my chicken turned out dry and overcooked. The watermelon was also a bit too sweet for my taste. I think I'll stick to my regular chicken recipes in the future.
Shorip Shorip
[email protected]This recipe was a bit too sweet for my taste, but overall it was still a good dish. The chicken was cooked well and the watermelon added a nice flavor. I think I would try it again with a different glaze.
Nicoleyedwwetetcsnneyeieooq Rosinski
[email protected]I was looking for a new and exciting way to cook chicken, and this recipe definitely fit the bill. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the watermelon added a really unique flavor. I will definitely be making this again!
MD moinuddin Shakh
[email protected]I've made this recipe several times now and it's always a hit with my family and friends. The chicken is always moist and flavorful, and the watermelon adds a really nice sweetness. I highly recommend this recipe!
Abdirisak Mohamed
[email protected]This recipe was featured in a recent cooking magazine and I just had to try it. I'm so glad I did! The chicken was cooked to perfection and the watermelon added a unique flavor that I really enjoyed. I will definitely be making this again.
Romaisa khan ali Ali
[email protected]Meh.
Olufunmilola Olufisola
[email protected]Not bad!
De todo un poco Tapia
[email protected]Yum!
Christopher Nichols
[email protected]OMG! This was amazing! The chicken was so juicy and flavorful, and the watermelon added a perfect touch of sweetness. I will definitely be making this again and again.
James Hammond
[email protected]This recipe was a bit too complicated for me, and the chicken didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. I think I'll stick to simpler recipes in the future.
Marwo cadeey
[email protected]The chicken was cooked perfectly and the watermelon added a nice sweetness. The honey glaze was a bit too sweet for my taste, but overall this was a good recipe.
Tejiri Blessing
[email protected]This was a fun and easy recipe to make. The chicken turned out great, and the watermelon was a great addition. I would definitely recommend this recipe to others.
Qaali Muqtaar xasan
[email protected]I was skeptical about this recipe, but I'm so glad I tried it! The chicken was so moist and flavorful, and the watermelon added a really nice sweetness. I'll definitely be making this again.
MAMA WOMEN'S
[email protected]This dish was absolutely delicious! The watermelon added a unique sweetness and juiciness to the chicken, and the honey glaze was the perfect finishing touch. I will definitely be making this again.