Recipe Details

Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 25 mins
Additional Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 55 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
1 whole roasted chicken

Ingredients

  • 1(4.5 pound)whole chicken

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 1lemon, halved

  • 1bunchfresh thyme

  • 3clovesgarlic, peeled (Optional)

  • 1bay leaf

  • 3tablespoonsolive oil, or as needed

  • 3thick slicesday-old sourdough French bread

  • 1cupcreme fraiche

  • 1tablespoonpeeled and grated shallot

  • 1teaspoonAleppo pepper

  • 2tablespoonslemon juice, or to taste

  • 1teaspoonlemon zest

  • 3chive blossoms for garnish, chopped (Optional)

Cooking Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

  2. Season chicken cavity generously with salt and black pepper. Squeeze lemon halves into cavity, then drop squeezed halves inside. Stuff cavity with thyme, garlic, and bay leaf. Set aside.

  3. Drizzle 1 tablespoon oil into a heavy roasting pan. Place bread slices into the pan and press lightly into oil to coat the bottoms of bread. Drizzle 1 more tablespoon oil over bread and place chicken on top. Tie legs together with kitchen twine, then brush chicken with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season the entire outside of chicken with salt.

  4. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour.

  5. Meanwhile, mix together crème fraîche, shallot, and Aleppo pepper in a small bowl. Stir lemon juice and lemon zest into crème fraîche mixture. Refrigerate sauce until needed.

  6. Lift chicken off bread slices using tongs and flip bread slices over (they will be very brown). Place chicken back onto bread slices. Generously brush the outside of chicken with crème fraîche sauce, putting enough on to drip down onto bread slices.

  7. Bake until sauce is browned, about 10 minutes. Repeat, brushing more crème fraîche sauce generously onto chicken. Bake for 10 more minutes. Remove chicken from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh near the bone should read at least 165 degrees F (75 degrees C).

  8. While chicken rests, pour remaining crème fraîche sauce into a small skillet over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until shallot is cooked and sauce thickens slightly, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.

  9. Transfer chicken and bread pieces to a cutting board. Cut bread pieces in half crosswise and arrange them on a serving platter. Cut chicken into 8 serving pieces (drumsticks, thighs, wings, and breasts) and place over bread on the platter. Drizzle thickened crème fraîche sauce over chicken and garnish with chopped chive blossoms.

    Aja

Cooking Tips:

Use a microplane to grate shallot.

The original recipe from the Standard Grill in New York City calls for finishing with Maldon sea salt. I didn’t, but that’s always a nice option.

Nutrition Facts

Full Nutrition Label
Servings Per Recipe6
Calories687
% Daily Value *
Total Fat
48g
61%
Saturated Fat
18g
89%
Cholesterol
200mg
67%
Sodium
269mg
12%
Total Carbohydrate
16g
6%
Dietary Fiber
2g
8%
Total Sugars
2g
Protein
50g
100%
Vitamin C
18mg
20%
Calcium
77mg
6%
Iron
3mg
19%
Potassium
495mg
11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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