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5 Ultimate Christmas Roasts

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5 Ultimate Christmas Roasts

Roasts serve large numbers of people making it ideal for a wholesome family and festive meal. The recipes here will guarantee that there won’t be even a morsel left on their plates!

Roasted Chicken with Herb Stuffing

Ingredients

  • 2 kg chicken
  • 1 lemon cut into quarters

Stuffing

  • 25 gm butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 100 gm breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (thyme, parsley, sage, tarragon)
  • 2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Salt and fresh pepper

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 300 chicken stock
  • Juices from the roast
  • 150 ml white wine

Herbs and lemon wedges to garnish

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 220 Celsius.
  2. For the stuffing heat butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan on medium heat.
  3. Add the onion and cook until soft.
  4. Remove from heat and add breadcrumbs, herbs, egg and seasoning.
  5. Mix well to bind.
  6. Stuff half of the stuffing and lime into the cavity of the chicken. Tie the legs together.
  7. Place remaining stuffing in a small buttered dish and cook for the last 30 minutes of the cooking time.
  8. Place the chicken on the rack of a roasting tin, breast side down.
  9. Pour about 250 ml of water under the rack. This keeps the bird moist and will collect the juices for the stock. Roast for 30 minutes.
  10. Take the chicken out of the oven and turn it breast side up. Season and brush on the remaining olive oil.
  11. Roast for a further 1 and ½ hours, basting the chicken every 20 minutes with the juices.
  12. It is ready when you insert a skewer and the juices run clear
  13. Tip the juices from the cavity and cover with foil for 10-15 minutes.
  14. Combine water and flour before adding it to the juices. Add the stock and wine and bring to a boil. Stir till thick and smooth. Season and serve with the chicken.
  15. Garnish chicken with herbs and lemon wedges.

Simple Rosemary Roast Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • Rosemary sprigs

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees centigrade
  2. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Stuff the cavity with the onion and rosemary.
  4. Place on a roasting tin and roast for 2 and a ½ hours or until the juices from the chicken run clear.
  5. Size will determine the cook time of the chicken.

Christmas Turkey

Ingredients

  • 4-kilo turkey (if you need only a 2-kilo turkey, halve these ingredients)
  • 1 sprig sage.
  • 12 strips of streaky bacon
  • Cloves of one bulb of garlic
  • 4 onions
  • 2 sticks celery
  • One cup breadcrumbs
  • 300 gm pork mince
  • Zest of 1 lime
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • 1 egg
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 peeled carrots
  • 1 orange
  • Olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon of flour
  • 1 liter of chicken stock

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees centigrade.
  2. Sauté 6 bacon rashers in olive oil and sage.
  3. Peel and chop 2 cloves of garlic and onion.
  4. Add the garlic, celery and onion to the bacon and fry till soft and golden brown.
  5. Take off heat and add breadcrumbs.
  6. Add chopped apricots to the cooled mixture.
  7. Add pork, lime zest, nutmeg and egg.
  8. Add salt and pepper.
  9. Slice remaining bacon in half and slice 1 clove of garlic. Roll up the bacon with rosemary and garlic slivers in the center.
  10. Stab the turkey 6 times on each side.
  11. Push the rolls into the holes.
  12. Carefully lift the skin, without making holes, at the neck end and spoon in the stiffing.
  13. Microwave the orange and stuff it into the cavity.
  14. Place turkey on roasting tin and season and rub olive oil on the surface.
  15. Add carrots, onions and garlic to the sides.
  16. Cover the turkey with tin foil and place in oven at 180 degrees centigrade and roast till juices from a cut on the thigh are clear.
  17. Remove foil and roast for remaining 45 minutes till the bird is brown.
  18. Place turkey on a foil-covered board and loosely cover to rest for at least 1 hour.
  19. Make the stock with the juices from the turkey.

Herb Butter and Thyme Roast Chicken

  • Follow the above procedure.
  • Substitute the stuffing under the skin with butter, garlic and parsley.

Roasted Chicken or Turkey with Christmas Stuffing

  • Follow the chicken or turkey recipes
  • Substitute the stuffing with cranberry stuffing.
  • Mix mashed potatoes, bread crumbs, cranberries, liver, garlic and salt and pepper.