Roast chicken with cider vinegar, baby leeks and hazelnuts

Name: Roast chicken with cider vinegar, baby leeks and hazelnuts
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1 cup sea salt; 1 stick cinnamon; 1 bunch rosemary; 1 cup apple cider vinegar, plus 2 tbsp extra for dressing; 4 tbsp honey; 1 1/2 litres boiling water; 1 1/2 kg ice; 1.4kg whole free-range chicken; 16 baby leeks, trimmed; 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; sea salt and freshly ground pepper; 1/3 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped; 1/2 bunch chives, finely chopped

Neil Perry

May 9, 2016

Autumnal roast chicken with cider vinegar and hazelnuts.William Meppem

Time:2 hours +Serves:4

Brining adds flavour to the chicken, and also improves the texture. Guests will love the subtle caramel flavours in this roast centrepiece.

Ingredients

1 cup sea salt
1 stick cinnamon
1 bunch rosemary
1 cup apple cider vinegar, plus 2 tbsp extra for dressing
4 tbsp honey
1 1/2 litres boiling water
1 1/2 kg ice
1.4kg whole free-range chicken
16 baby leeks, trimmed
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
1/2 bunch chives, finely chopped

Method

Step 1
TO BRINE THE CHICKEN, stir together salt, cinnamon, rosemary, the 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and honey in a container large enough to hold the chicken and brine. Pour in boiling water and stir to dissolve.
Step 2
Add ice, stir until melted and water is chilled, then submerge the chicken, placing a plate on top to prevent it floating. Cover with clingfilm and refrigerate for one to three hours, but no longer.
Step 3
REMOVE CHICKEN from brine and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. For best results and for a super-crispy skin, place in the refrigerator to air-dry, uncovered, for at least another hour, or even overnight.
Step 4
REMOVE CHICKEN from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Step 5
PREHEAT OVEN TO 200°C. Blanch leeks in a pot of boiling salted water for 3 minutes. Drain well, patting down with paper towel. Arrange in a roasting tray with 2 tbsp olive oil, and seasoning.
Step 6
RUB CHICKEN with 1 tbsp olive oil, then liberally season inside and out.
Step 7
Place chicken on a rack set inside a roasting pan. Roast for about one hour, until thigh juices run clear, or, if you have a thermometer, until the temperature reaches 70°C at the thickest part of the thigh (being careful not to touch the bone, as this will give you a false read).
Step 8
For the last 10 minutes, add in the leeks and roast until golden and caramelised.
Step 9
COVER CHICKEN with foil and rest in a warm place for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 10
MAKE A DRESSING from the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, the 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar and seasoning. Pour this over the leeks as soon as they come out of the oven.
Step 11
CARVE THE CHICKEN and serve with the leeks, garnished with hazelnuts and chives.