ROAST CHICKEN WITH CUMIN, HONEY AND ORANGE
An easy way to give roast chicken some character is to baste it with flavorful liquid. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this does nothing to keep the bird moist. Even a very lean bird remains moist as long as it isn't overcooked. But the liquid adds flavor to the skin and creates a ready-made sauce that can be spooned over the chicken as you serve it. If you add some sugar or other sweetener to the basting liquid, the bird gains a mahogany color that you have to see to believe. As it heats, the sugar caramelizes, becoming thicker and stickier and turning the chicken's skin crisp and gorgeous. The result is not overly sweet, because caramelized sugars have a bitter, complex component. I prefer honey to sugar and like to combine it - as I do here - with orange juice and ground cumin, which together add acidity and even more complexity. This aromatic mix creates pan juices that can be spooned over rice or sopped up with bread.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories dinner, weekday, roasts, times classics, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use a nonstick roasting pan, or line a roasting pan with a double layer of aluminum foil. Combine orange juice, honey, cumin, salt and pepper in bowl, and whisk until smooth. Place chicken in pan, and spoon all but 1/4 cup of liquid over all of it.
- Place chicken in oven, legs first, and roast for 10 minutes. Spoon accumulated juices back over chicken, reverse pan back to front, and return to oven. Repeat four times, basting every 10 minutes and switching pan position each time. If chicken browns too quickly, lower heat a bit. If juices dry up, use reserved liquid and 1 or 2 tablespoons of water or orange juice.
- After 50 minutes of roasting, insert an instant-read thermometer into a thigh; when it reads 155 to 165 degrees, remove chicken from oven, and baste one final time. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 649, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 40 grams, Fat 35 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 44 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 968 milligrams, Sugar 37 grams, TransFat 0 grams
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Lopez Alvarado
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of cumin, but this recipe was still really good. The chicken was moist and the sauce was flavorful.
Samson Okadala
[email protected]I followed the recipe exactly and the chicken came out perfect.
mohmed tube
[email protected]This is the best roast chicken recipe I've ever tried. The chicken is so moist and flavorful.
William Fleischer
[email protected]I would have liked the sauce to be a bit thicker, but overall this was a good recipe.
Williams Benjamin
[email protected]This recipe is a keeper. I've made it several times and it's always a hit.
Kaiden Naugle
[email protected]I made this dish for a dinner party and it was a huge success. Everyone raved about the flavor of the chicken.
SMOOTH EDITZ
[email protected]Not a fan of the cumin in this recipe. It overpowered the other flavors.
Jayden McLachlan
[email protected]The chicken was a bit dry, but the sauce was delicious. I would recommend using a different cooking method.
Md Mistkim
[email protected]I love the combination of cumin, honey, and orange in this dish. It's a great way to change up the classic roast chicken recipe.
Dj Circles
[email protected]This recipe was easy to follow and the chicken turned out perfectly. I will definitely be making it again.
MH Shanto
[email protected]I made this dish last night and it was a hit with my family. The chicken was moist and flavorful, and the sauce was delicious.
Jimmy Penland
[email protected]This roast chicken recipe is a delightful blend of flavors. The cumin, honey, and orange create a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy.