Garlic and Herb Roasted Chicken

Difficulty: EASY
Servings: 4

Nutrition Information:
Calories: 324
Fat:  12g.
Carbohydrates: <1g.
Protein: 42g.


A Great Sunday Dinner

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This Sunday we herb-roasted a couple of whole chickens, accompanied by a recipe of garlic smashed rosemary-scented redskins, steamed broccoli, and Shirley's homemade stuffing.  I made gravy from the rendered pan drippings which worked nicely over the garlic-smashed redskins.  Talk about an easy, healthy Sunday meal brimming with flavor!

About This Recipe

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The essential oils of the herbs in this recipe, especially oregano, basil, sage and thyme, contain high amounts of antioxidants. In fact, oregano has more than 42 times the antioxidant activity as apples, 30 times more than potatoes, and 12 times more than oranges. These herbs have many other healthy properties as well. Thyme, for example, contains high amounts of rosmarinic and ursolic acids which have cancer-protective effects. These herbs also possess many other health properties--google them.


Ingredients

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• 1 Whole Chicken (3-4 lbs)--washed and patted dry
• 4 Cloves Garlic (divided)
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Fresh-Ground Black Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon each of ground sage, dried basil, thyme, oregano, and marjoram (crush these herbs together in a mortar and pestle to release more essential oils)

Directions

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1. Place the chicken breast side up in a shallow roasting pan.
   
2. Smash three cloves of garlic with the broad side of a chef's knife and vigorously rub the garlic all over the outside of the chicken. Place the garlic pieces and the two bay leaves into the cavity of the chicken.
   
3. In a small saucepan, combine the olive oil, remaining garlic clove (pressed or minced), salt, pepper, and the remaining herbs. Warm the garlic and herb infused oil over medium heat until the garlic begins to sizzle and release its essence.
   
4. Spoon about 1/3 of the herbed oil mixture into the cavity of the chicken and roll it around to evenly coat the interior of the cavity.
   
5. Brush the remaining herbed oil mixture all over the chicken. Allow the chicken to sit for a bit to allow the flavors to begin penetrating, and allow the bird to come to room temperature before roasting.
   
6. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
   
7. Roast chicken for 15 minutes at 450 degrees F. Then lower oven temperature to 350 degrees F. and continue roasting for 1 hour longer, basting 2 or 3 times during the hour.
   
8. Allow chicken to rest under a tent of foil for 15 minutes before carving.

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