French Roast Chicken

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/2 cup chopped mixed fresh herbs (tarragon and flat-leafed parsley)
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/4 lb unsalted butter, softened
• 4 lbs free-range chicken
• 1 lemon
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup dry wine
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 -3 sprigs mixed fresh herbs, to garnish
• roasted shallot, for garnish

Recipe

• 1 beat the chopped herbs and garlic into the butter.
• 2 ease your fingers between the breast skin and flesh of the bird and spread the butter evenly over the flesh.
• 3 prick the lemon all over with a fork and place inside the bird.
• 4 put the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and pour the wine and 1 cup of stock over it.
• 5 roast in a preheated 375f oven for 1 1/2 hours or until the juices run clear, basting frequently and adding more stock if the pan becomes dry.
• 6 remove the chicken from the pan and let stand, covered with a foil, for 10 minutes.
• 7 spoon off the fat from the pan, add the remaining stock, and boil, stirring, until slightly reduced.
• 8 garnish the chicken and serve hot, with the juices passed separately.