Whole Roasted Chicken North African Style Recipes

MOROCCAN-SPICED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Slick a heavy large rimmed baking sheet--preferably not a roasting pan, but if you do use a roasting pan, make it a big one--with a little oil.
• Pull out and discard the fat and giblets from the cavity of the chicken. Pat the chicken very dry with paper towels. Starting at the edge of the main cavity, slide a finger under the skin over each breast half, making a pocket between the skin and meat. Rub a total of 1 tablespoon of salt over the chicken skin and toss a little salt inside the cavity. Sprinkle the chicken generously with black pepper.
• In a small bowl, mix the paprika, cumin, pepper flakes, and cinnamon. Set aside 2 1/2 teaspoons of the spice mixture for the vegetables. The rest is for the chicken. Finely grate the zest from the lemon, cut the lemon into quarters, and mix the zest into the spices for the chicken. Gradually mix in 2 tablespoons of olive oil to make a paste. Spread a little of the paste inside the cavity, slather some of it under the skin over the chicken breasts, and rub the rest of the paste all over the outside of the chicken. Toss the lemon quarters inside the cavity. Tie the legs together, if desired. Place the chicken in the center of the baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it and if it browns too quickly cover it loosely with a sheet of foil.
• Tie the legs together, if desired. Place the chicken in the center of the baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it and if it browns too quickly cover it loosely with a sheet of foil.
• Meanwhile, cut the sweet potatoes in half crosswise, and then quarter each half lengthwise to create wedges. Combine the sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and onion in a bowl. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil and toss to coat. Add the reserved spice mixture, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
• After the chicken has been roasted for 30 minutes, remove it from the oven. Tilt the sheet pan and spoon off most of the fat. Return the chicken to the center of the sheet and spoon the vegetables around it. Return the pan to the oven and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh registers 165°F (74°C), about 40 minutes longer, depending on the size of the bird. (Note: the bird will take longer to roast if the legs have been tied together. It will also take longer if you ended up with a behemoth bird that's closer to five pounds than four.) If the skin is getting too dark before the meat is done, reduce the oven temperature to 425°F (218°C).
• Arrange the chicken on a platter and let rest for 10 minutes. Carve the chicken and serve with the vegetables.

NORTH AFRICAN SPICED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Add the chicken to a large bowl then drizzle with avocado oil and all the spices. Using a pair of tongs turn and mix the chicken pieces and spices together until they are evenly distributed over the chicken.
• Sear the chicken about a minute or to per side on a large frying pan heated to medium high heat.
• Bake in the oven at 350ºF for 15 minutes, or until the internal temperautre reaches 165ºF.

POULET ROTI A L'ALGERIENNE (ALGERIAN ROAST CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix water, onion, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt together in a roasting dish. Add chicken; turn until well coated with mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 1 hour 30 minutes.

WHOLE ROASTED CHICKEN NORTH AFRICAN STYLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
• After washing chicken, wipe with paper towels and season the chicken and cavity with salt and pepper.
• Using a mortar and pestle, pound the parsley, chervil, chopped onion, butter, cumin, cayenne pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt to a paste.
• Spread the paste carefully over the whole chicken with a spatula.
• Place a skewer through the wings of the chicken to secure them closely to the sides of the bird during cooking.
• Lay the chicken, breast side down, in a roasting pan and roast for 20 minutes until lightly browned.
• Turn the bird over so that the breast is up and roast for another 15-20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from oven and turn down the heat to 350 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, lightly dust the chicken breast with flour.
• Place chicken back in oven.
• Baste with pan juices and continue to roast for about 1 hour or until the chicken is done, and continue basting frequently during cooking time.
• When done, the juices will run clear when you push a skewer through the thickest part of the leg.
• Remove chicken to a cutting board and carve.
• Serve immediately.

MARRAKESH CHICKEN (NORTH AFRICAN)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Season the chicken on all sides with salt and arrange in a single layer in a baking pan. Evenly cover the chicken with the lemon juice, coriander, oregano, garlic, and olives. Drizzle the olive oil over all. Layer the lemon slices on top of the chicken. Place the baking pan in the oven and bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve with couscous, if desired.