Cumin and lime roast chicken recipe

Name: Cumin and lime roast chicken recipe
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 4-6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.6kg whole free-range chicken; 1 tbsp salt; 75g unsalted butter; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 2 tsp ground coriander; 2 tsp smoked paprika; grated rind of 1 lime, rest of the fruit reserved; 1 tsp dried oregano; 4 cloves garlic, crushed; 2 large red onions, cut into eighths; handful coriander, to garnish

Adam Liaw

November 1, 2016

Time:2 hours +Serves:4-6

Real Mexican food is fantastic, but don't write off its most famous spin-off. Tex Mex is a cuisine in its own right. Spices and herbs such as cumin and oregano became staples when Mexicans had access to a bigger American pantry. Slow roasting this chicken gives the spice flavours time to develop and produces a meltingly tender result.

Ingredients

1.6kg whole free-range chicken
1 tbsp salt
75g unsalted butter
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp smoked paprika
grated rind of 1 lime, rest of the fruit reserved
1 tsp dried oregano
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 large red onions, cut into eighths
handful coriander, to garnish

Method

Rub the chicken inside and out with salt, then combine the butter, cumin, coriander, paprika, lime rind, oregano and garlic.
Loosen the skin of the chicken from the breast and rub the butter onto the breasts, pulling the skin back over to cover.
Push more butter between the skin of the thighs and the meat. Cut a deep slit into each drumstick and fill with the butter. Rub any remaining butter over the outside of the bird.
Halve the lime and place the halves into the cavity with a couple of pieces of onion.
Heat your oven to 120°C. Scatter the remaining onion over the base of a roasting pan. Place the chicken on top and roast for around 2½ hours.
Increase the heat to 200°C for the final 10 minutes, then rest the chicken for a further 10 minutes, spooning any collected juices and oil over the bird after it is carved.
Garnish with coriander, then serve.
Suggestion: Serve with Adam's squased potatoes with avocado salsa