Clay Pot Chicken Recipes

CLAY POT HONEY-LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare a clay roaster by soaking in cold water for 15 minutes.
• Wash the chicken well inside and out under cool running water. Pat dry with paper towels. Rub chicken all over with 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice and season evenly on all sides with the salt and pepper. Place the reserved lemon shell inside the chicken cavity. Place the chicken inside the prepared clay roaster and brush with the melted butter. Cover the roaster and transfer to a cold oven. Set the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and cook for 45 minutes.
• Combine the remaining 1/4 cup of lemon juice, honey, and soy sauce in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until heated through. In a small bowl, make a paste from the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter and the flour. Whisk the butter-flour mixture into the melted honey-lemon-butter mixture. Continue to cook until the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove the clay cooker from the oven and pour the honey-butter mixture all over the chicken, making sure to evenly cover the breast and any exposed areas. Cover the roaster and return the chicken to the oven for 45 minutes, or until it is cooked through and very tender. Transfer the chicken to a platter or carving board, cut into pieces and serve immediately. Transfer the sauce to a gravy boat for serving, or spoon some of the sauce over each piece of chicken.

CLAY POT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Rub the chicken all over with the oil, and loosely stuff the cavity with 3 onions, 1 garlic clove and 1 sprig of parsley. Set aside. On the bottom of a 3-quart terra-cotta jug or deep heavy casserole, spread half the prosciutto, 2 sprigs parsley, 4 onions, 1 garlic clove, 1 bay leaf and all of the giblets. Place the chicken head-first in the pot, or breast-side up in a casserole. Scatter the remaining onions, garlic, 3 sprigs parsley, prosciutto and bay leaf around and on top of the chicken. In a small bowl, combine the tomatoes, wine, Port, brandy, mustard, and pepper, and pour over the chicken. Cover the pot or casserole and bake for 1 1/2-2 hours, or until chicken is cooked through.
• Remove pot from the oven, and carefully remove the onions and reserve. Drain the liquid from the pot into a large skillet. Lift out the chicken and transfer to a roasting pan fitted with a rack.
• Use a slotted spoon to lift out the giblets from the pot, along with any remaining whole onions and add them to the reserved onions.
• Set the skillet of liquid over high heat, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until liquid is reduced by half, stirring often. Preheat a broiler. Place the chicken under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned. To serve, cut the chicken into pieces and arrange on a large platter. Scatter the onions and giblets around the chicken, and spoon some of the warm sauce over the top. Garnish with parsley sprigs and pass extra sauce.

CLAY-POT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celcius.
• Dry fry the coconut in a large wok until evenly browned. Add the vegetable oil, shallots or onion, garlic, lemon grass, ginger, chillies and tamarind paste. Fry for 2 - 4 minutes to release the flavours. Add the chicken pieces to the wok and brown evenly with the spices for 2 - 3 minutes.
• Strain the coconut milk, and add the thin part with the chicken stock, lime leaves, if using, sugar and vinegar. Transfer to a glazed clay pot, cover and bake in the centre of the oven for 50 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Stir in the thick part of the coconut milk and return to the oven for 5-10 minutes.
• Place the tomatoes in a bowl and cover with boiling water to loosen and remove the skins. halve the tomatoes, then remove the seeds and chop into large dice.
• Add the chopped tomatoes to the finished dish, sprinkle with the chopped coriander and serve.
• Plain rice is the usual accompaniment, but I normally serve with Naan Bread.