Festive Rosemary Roast Chicken with Pigs in Blankets
Festive rosemary roast chicken is seasoned with dried rosemary and served with pigs in blankets and a homemade chicken gravy. It is a simple festive centrepiece with clear roast flavours and minimal fuss.
Servings
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 1 sachet dried rosemary
- 10 pigs in blankets
- 1 onion
- 1 carrot
- 18.75 g plain flour
- 20 g chicken stock paste
- 1.5 tbsp oil for cooking
- 500 ml boiling water
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan. Remove and discard the string from the chicken legs.1 whole chicken
- Place the chicken on a baking tray. Drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle the dried rosemary over the skin.1 sachet dried rosemary, 1.5 tbsp oil
- Roast for 75–95 minutes, depending on size, until the juices run clear and the meat is cooked through. Transfer to a serving dish.
- Arrange the pigs in blankets on a separate tray and roast for 20–25 minutes until golden and cooked through.10 pigs in blankets
- Quarter the onion and cut the carrot into thick rounds. Brown both in oil in a large saucepan for 10–12 minutes.1 onion, 1 carrot
- Stir in the flour and cook for 30 seconds. Gradually pour in the boiling water, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.18.75 g plain flour, 500 ml boiling water
- Add the chicken stock paste and simmer for 10–15 minutes until thick and glossy.20 g chicken stock paste
- Strain the gravy through a sieve, pressing the vegetables to extract the liquid. Serve the chicken with pigs in blankets and gravy.
Chef's notes
- Dry the chicken skin before seasoning if time allows; it helps the rosemary crust adhere.
- The gravy depends on browning the onion and carrot well, so do not rush that step.
- Rest the chicken briefly before carving for cleaner slices.
- The gravy can be made ahead and reheated gently with a splash of water.
Drink pairing
Rosemary roast chicken and savoury gravy pair well with rounded whites, light reds and crisp festive drinks.
Alcoholic
- White Burgundy
- Pinot Noir
- English sparkling wine
Non alcoholic
- Sparkling apple and thyme cooler
- Alcohol-free Chardonnay
- Cranberry tonic with orange
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 1673kcal (84%) | Carbohydrates: 26.9g (9%) | Protein: 141.2g (282%) | Fat: 113.1g (174%) | Saturated Fat: 32.1g (201%) | Sodium: 2240mg (97%) | Fiber: 5.1g (21%) | Sugar: 10.7g (12%)
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