Portuguese Roasted Chicken Recipes

PORTUGUESE-STYLE ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan. Using kitchen scissors or poultry shears, cut down either side of the backbones of chickens and discard. Open out chickens and flatten, pressing with the heel of your hand.
• Rub chicken skin with cut lemon; reserve lemons. Combine oil, garlic, oregano, paprika, cayenne and salt, and rub into skin. Arrange chickens skin side up in a large baking dish and add reserved lemons.
• Roast for 45 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside to rest for 10 minutes, then carve into pieces. Drizzle with reserved pan juices to serve.

PORTUGUESE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place chicken on cutting board, breast-side down. Use a pair of poultry shears or heavy-duty kitchen scissors to cut along either side of the bird's backbone; remove. Turn the chicken over; use palms to press on breast bones to flatten the chicken. Using a sharp, heavy knife, cut the chicken between breast halves. The chicken will be in 2, flat pieces.
• Place an ovenproof cooling rack on a large rimmed baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice, garlic, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and pimento paste, then rub over the chicken. Transfer the chicken to a rack, then pour 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 cup wine over the chicken. Roast 30 minutes; turn the chicken over and pour the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1/2 cup wine over the chicken. Roast the chicken until golden, moist, and opaque throughout, about 30 minutes.

NANA'S PORTUGUESE ROAST CHICKEN AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Pour water into a roasting pan. Add vinegar to taste. The water should have just a hint of vinegary taste. Sprinkle paprika over the water and mix, removing the lumps. Add salt, pepper, onion, tomato, parsley and potatoes. Before cooking add chorizo. Bake for 2 hours. Do not cover potatoes because they will steam and not roast. The potatoes will have a nice red color when they are done.
• Note: Both recipes can be cooked simultaneously in the same oven.
• (all measurements are approximate) .
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. This recipe is made in a ceramic cooker. To prepare the cooker, soak the cover for 15 minutes, and spray the bottom with any non-stick coating. Mix first 5 ingredients, set aside. Wash the chicken and pat it dry. Put chicken in cooker and pour salad dressing mixture on top, then use hands to rub it all over the chicken skin. Lightly sprinkle entire chicken with paprika (a pinch or so), then sprinkle a pinch or so of the dry Italian seasoning on top as well. Cover and cook at 375 degrees for 2 hours. About 1 to 1 1/2 hours into the cooking time, check the chicken. If there is liquid half-way up the chicken or more, drain all of the liquid so that the chicken is dry enough to roast, then continue cooking. If it's not halfway up the chicken, just leave whatever juices are in there and continue cooking.

HOMEMADE PORTUGUESE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, paprika, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, chili powder, red pepper flakes, bay leaf, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until very smooth.
• Score chicken legs a few times using a knife and place in a resealable bag or a bowl. Pour about 1/3 cup of sauce over chicken and toss well. Season with additional sea salt. Cover or seal and marinate chicken in a refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight. Reserve remaining sauce for basting.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place chicken in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn chicken over and baste with extra marinade. Cover baking dish with foil once again and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 15 to 20 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near a bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).