Spring chicken with roasted potatoes
We often put a big animal on the table during the holidays, such as a whole chicken or a turkey. But how about a spring chicken? No more fighting at the table over the last piece of turkey, because everyone gets their own spring chicken on their plate.
- 4 squeaky chicks
- 6 sprigs of rosemary
- 7 sprigs of thyme
- 3 oranges
- 100 g smoked bacon strips
- 750 g potatoes
- 200 g butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 250 g verse cranberry's
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 4 tablespoons light brown sugar
- salt and pepper
- binding twine
- roasting pan/oven dish
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (top and bottom heat) 180°C (fan-assisted).
- Pat the chicks dry with paper towels.
- Finely chop the rosemary needles, strip the leaves from the thyme sprigs, and grate 1 orange.
- Mix the herbs, orange zest, and 3 teaspoons of salt in a small bowl with plenty of pepper.
- Drizzle some olive oil over the broilers. Use 3/4 of the herb mixture to massage into the broilers. Finish with a pinch of salt. Let marinate for 30 minutes at the latest.
- Scrub the potatoes clean. Pat them dry and cut into small wedges. Spread them over a large roasting pan, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and some salt and pepper.
- Let 150 grams of butter come to room temperature.
- Fry the bacon strips in a dry frying pan until golden brown and crispy. Remove them from the pan, let them drain, and let them cool on paper towels. Then chop finely.
- Mix the rest of the herb mix (rosemary, thyme, orange zest) and finely chopped bacon into the butter.
- Place the broilers breast-side up. Use the back of a spoon to create space between the skin and the meat and spread generously with butter.
- Cut 2 oranges into wedges and fill the broilers with them. Brush the outside of the broilers all around with the remaining herb butter for extra flavor.
- Tie up the broiler chickens with kitchen twine so that they retain their shape nicely while roasting in the oven.
- Place the small chickens on a rack above the roasting pan with potatoes. Put this in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Mix the cranberries with balsamic vinegar and sugar and place on top of the potatoes. Put the roasting pan with potatoes back in the oven for another 20 minutes.
- Serve the spring chickens with the roasted potatoes.
Everything you need to know
A good option would be a light to medium-bodied red wine, such as a Pinot Noir. The fruity aromas and soft tannins of a Pinot Noir pair well with the spring chicken, while the earthy notes in the wine harmonize with the roasted potatoes. If you prefer white wine, consider a Chardonnay, which can complement the richness of the dish.
A Belgian brown beer or an amber ale pairs well with spring chicken and oven-roasted potatoes. The slight sweetness and complex flavors of these beers can complement the dish. Choose, for example, a Belgian Dubbel or an amber ale from a local brewery.
If you don't want alcohol, consider an alcohol-free wheat beer.
