Recipe review Healthy Roast Chicken from Devil of a Cookbook

[judydawn]

 This is Merlin's review of the Healthy Roast Chicken - have copied it here so that I can link it to the index list

 Just made the healthy 'roast' chicken.  Firstly using the lemon zest in a paste with the parsley as a rub makes the kitchen smell wonderful. As I have lots of herbs growing at the moment I used all of the ones stated  in the recipe and the final result was brilliant. I love a good roast chook as much as the next person  but to cook chicken this way, the meat was moist and well flavored. My kids loved it  as well, even without the skin on. Great all in one meal to add to the repertoire. I give it a 5/5 - additionally, it feels a lot healthier to eat and less guilty than a roast chicken ( lets face it, I'm a roast chook skin addict but I am changing my ways!)

[ELH05]

I Made this as well 2 nights ago and was so amazed at how tasty this chicken was and also how moist the chicken turned out even the next day it was still great!  Simple easy dish - I will do my chicken like this from now on !!

5/5 !!

[CreamPuff63]

This is really easy, and enjoyed by all. The smallest chook I could find was 1.2kg, and wouldn't go bigger otherwise it will not sit in the Varoma with the lid on and there won't be room for the veges. Made the Sage, Leek and Potato soup from FFS with a cob loaf to have prior, as was worried there would not be enough for 5 peopler. Will definitely make it again. Delish!

[Halex]

We had the chicken tonight for dinner. I did green beans & brocoli in the varoma. The chicken was so moist & tasty, ds didnt even complain that he didnt have crispy chicken. I admit though I roasted carrots, potates & parsnip in the oven,

It fed the 3 of us with very little left over.

Will make this chicken again for sure.  Wish I had mre chickens in the freezer.

H

[judydawn]

We loved this recipe and from now on, this is the way I am going to 'roast' my chickens.  No keeping an eye on it to make sure it isn't burning or overcooking and becoming dry.  As we don't eat the skin anyway, this is perfect for us and I wouldn't hesitate to serve it to visitors.  So moist and succulent.  I didn't use any rosemary as I am not fond of that flavour and I didn't feel there was enough room for vegies so I roasted the carrot, pumpkin and potatoes in the oven and cooked the peas in the microwave.  I found some liquid vegie stock in the freezer (from I don't when or what) so added a tspn caramelised garlic and thickened it with gravox which made a delicious gravy.
I am now using the skin and carcass to make Tenina's chicken stock powder and will freeze the chicken stock for my next batches of gravy. The original recipe just keeps on keeping on 

5/5 from us.

[Halex]

Did a slightly different version of this, used tarragon, lemon zest, garlic & sinful home made butter.
Yum.

H

[Katiej]

We had this for dinner tonight and the chicken was lovely, moist and very tender.
I roasted the potatoes, carrots and pumpkin in the oven, but did steam the broccoli and green beans in the varoma as per the recipe.

My DH came home from the Crows game and didn't look impressed when he saw I was steaming a whole chicken in the varoma.  He doesn't really fancy steamed chicken and he hates chicken (or any meat) with bones.  I don't think he was looking forward to dinner!  He really enjoyed it though and said it was lovely 

[judydawn]

DH will soon learn to trust your judgement Katie - I was glad to hear he liked it, it is so moist and I'm sure you served his portion with no bones    I love how you can get a few meals from cooking the chicken this way.

[Katiej]

Yes Judy I definitely served his chicken up minus the bones.  He really is funny about it, even things like lamb shanks the meat needs to be taken off the bone first and the bone whisked away out of sight!

When he was looking concerned at the chicken steaming I said it's ok its a new recipe from this book and I'm sure it will be nice, Judy has made it and gave it a positive review.  He was much happier then knowing it had your stamp of approval 

[CreamPuff63]

Due to the small chook. OMG - had a 1.3kg size chooken. Again, b****y lovely. for the gravy without having to look just add 50g plain flour to the TM juice, Varoma, Speed 1. Best meal out. 5/5

[goldfish]

Prepared this last night - and have to agree with all the positive comments made already! Loved the flavours! - Probably the best chook in memory!!  The smallest chook I could find was a #16 - put it into the varoma dish and just managed to get the top on . . no room for the vegetables so they were done on the stove.  So simple and yet so brilliant - a definite 5/5!!

[astarra]

Doing this tonight - must admit I am a bit nervous at
1) Steaming a chook - hope it cooks thru
2) What DH and the girls will say when they don't get crispy skin
and
3) just because I haven't done it before......hence the reason I came to read the reviews to get my confidence up!!

Must say all sounds positive and yum! 

[RhubarbWhine]

Thanks for this. My copy of this book just arrived, so after I finish this current detox I am on (headache, ugh) I plan to give this a go. Thanks!

[astarra]

Well, all the positive comments for this certainly have merit! What a flavoursome moist chook!!
Definate do again, 5/5 here too! 
We have none left over, much to DH's disgust - he wanted some at work for lunch tomorrow!!
Will do again, and probably play around a bit with the seasonings for different flavours - just cuz I can!! 

Not enough room in the varoma for the veg tho, so oven roasted them. 
Gravy - I just added some cornflour and chicken gravox to the bowl, brought to boil again...and done! YUM!! 

[Persistenttiger]

Okay, my list of cookbooks I want is growing...