A golden, crisp roast chicken stuffed with a fresh orange and thyme nutty stuffing - it will be the highlight of the Christmas table. This recipe uses the KitchenAid Platinum ExactSlice Food Processor.
Ingredients
5 spring onions, cut into 5cm pieces
2 sticks celery, cut into 5cm pieces
2 cloves garlic, peeled
4cm ginger, peeled, roughly chopped
4 rashes bacon, roughly chopped
50g butter
7 slices (200g) wholegrain bread, torn
50g macadamia nuts, toasted
50g almonds, toasted
3 sprigs thyme
Rind & juice of 1 small orange
1 egg
Salt and black peppercorns, freshly ground
1 x size 18 corn fed chicken or free range chicken
30g butter, extra, cut into tiny cubes
2 tbs olive oil
350g sweet potato
1 medium onion
1 large zucchini
Method
For best results use the KitchenAid Platinum ExactSlice Food Processor
Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan forced)
Fit the food processor with the work bowl with the multipurpose blade. Add the spring onions, celery, garlic, ginger and bacon to the bowl and process on speed 1 until chopped. Remove from the bowl and set 1 tbs of this mixture aside for the gravy
Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, cook the onion mixture for 3 minutes or until softened
Return cooked mixture to the processor. Add the bread, nuts, thyme, orange rind and juice, egg and season well with salt and pepper. Process on speed 1 until chopped and well combined
Wash the chicken under cold water and dry well with paper towel. Tuck wing tips under chicken. Fill the cavity with the stuffing-wrap any excess stuffing in a square of foil and twist the ends. Secure the chicken opening with toothpicks and tie the legs together with string
Using your fingertips carefully separate the skin from the breast and place in a couple of pieces of butter. Smear the remaining butter over the skin and rub over the oil
Fit the work bowl with the adjustable slicing disc and slice the vegetables on the thickest setting on speed 2
Place the sliced vegetables on the base of a medium sized baking dish. Place roasting rack over the top and sit the chicken onto the rack, breast side up (the delicious chicken juices will baste the vegetables during cooking). Sit the extra stuffing parcel on the rack also. Roast for 1 1/2 hours
Remove the chicken from the dish, cover with foil and rest for 15 minutes. Return the vegetables to the oven to keep warm, reduce the temperature to low
Serve the chicken on the roasted vegetables and accompany with the gravy
Red wine gravy
Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
200ml red wine
300ml chicken stock
2 tbs blackberry jam
2 tbs tomato paste
Method
Heat oil in a small saucepan. Place the reserved onion mixture in the saucepan and cook for 5 minutes or until onion has softened. Add the red wine, stock, jam, tomato paste and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken and reduce
