Moroccan Roasted Chicken

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National Chicken Council
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  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Prep: 25 mins
  • Cook: 85 mins

Ingredients

1whole chicken, about 4 pounds
1/2-- preserved lemon
3tablespoons olive oil
5cloves garlic
1teaspoon ground cumin
1teaspoon ground ginger
1teaspoon cinnamon
1/2teaspoon allspice
1/4teaspoon cayenne pepper
1small onion, chopped roughly
1-- carrot, peeled and chopped roughly
1-- cinnamon stick
1tablespoon sugar
4cups boiling water
1-- (16-ounce) bottle pomegranate juice
1tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

Instructions

  1. Wash chicken and gently pull loose the skin. Set aside.
  2. In food processor, combine preserved lemon, olive oil, garlic, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and cayenne pepper. Grind to smooth paste. Rub marinade under chicken skin and inside cavity. Place chicken in refrigerator and marinate at least 2 hours, or overnight.
  3. Preheat oven to 500F.
  4. In large roasting pan, combine onion, carrot, cinnamon stick, sugar and boiling water. Place chicken in pan and cook in preheated oven 25 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and turn chicken over; cook another 20 minutes. Turn chicken over again and cook 20 minutes; turn chicken final time and cook additional 20 minutes. Baste chicken with pan juices during each turn.
  5. While chicken is cooking, place pomegranate juice in small saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Cook until reduced to about ¼ cup.
  6. Remove chicken to cutting board and let rest for 15 minutes. Place drippings from pan in medium saucepan; add reduced pomegranate juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook 15 minutes to thicken. Stir in mint.
  7. *To make preserved lemons, cut 4 large lemons into 8 wedges each. In mixing bowl, toss with 2/3 cup salt and 1 cup fresh lemon juice. Transfer to large glass jar and cover with tight-fitting lid. Let lemons stand at room temperature for one week, shaking jar each day. Add olive oil to cover lemons and store, covered and refrigerated, up to 6 months.

Recipe by COPIA, Napa, Calif.

Nutritional Info *per serving

  • Calories 250
  • Glycemic Load 2.63
  • Fat 12g
  • Saturated Fat 2g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat 1.5g
  • Monounsaturated Fat 8g
  • Cholesterol 20mg
  • Sodium 50mg
  • Potassium 480mg
  • Carbohydrate 31g
  • Fiber 6g
  • Sugars 19g
  • Protein 8g
  • Trans Fat 0g
  • Vitamin A 50%
  • Vitamin C 25%
  • Calcium 15%
  • Iron 15%