Julie Hodson

🍗 ROAST DINNER: Because life’s better with roast chook! 🇦🇺

There’s something comforting about a traditional Sunday roast, isn’t there? Our friends in the UK take this tradition rather seriously, while here in Australia, with our multicultural influences (and perhaps our warmer weather), we’re a little more relaxed about it. We tend to roast whenever the mood strikes, rather than reserving it for Sundays.

Roast lamb might be Australia’s favourite, but give me a good old roast chook any day! And Yorkshire puddings? Well, they rarely make an appearance on our Aussie roast dinner table😉

Here’s how I make mine. Nothing complicated, just a few little tricks that make all the difference.

🍋 THE CHOOK

* Bring your chicken to room temperature before roasting.
* Mix softened salted butter with lemon zest and gently tuck it under the skin.
* Pop the lemon halves up the chook’s whazoo! 😂
* Sit the chicken on sliced onion and tomato in a roasting tray. Drizzle with olive oil, season generously with salt and pepper, and pour in ⅔ cup white wine.
* Roast at 210°C for 15 mins, then reduce to 185°C.

🥔 THE SIDES

* Parboil potatoes in salted water, drain and give the pan a good shake to rough up the edges. Toss with olive oil, rosemary, oregano, salt and pepper.
* After the chicken has roasted for 30 mins, add the potatoes and roast for about an hour, turning halfway.
* With 40 minutes to go, add chopped butternut pumpkin around the chicken, drizzled with honey and seasoned with salt and pepper.
* Add a quartered red onion to the potatoes.
* Steam your favourite greens to serve alongside. Tonight, it’s green beans and corn for us.

⏰ THE FINISHING TOUCHES
The chicken should take around 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on its size. Use a meat thermometer to check doneness, (around 70c) then rest under foil for 15 mins before carving.

⚠️And please, whatever you do, don’t discard those glorious pan juices! The chicken drippings, white wine, softened onion and tomato create a sauce that is, quite frankly, heavenly. No fancy gravy-making required!

Tell me friends, do you enjoy a roast dinner?

Love to all, have a fabulous week xxx
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#roastdinners #roastchickendinner