Roast Chicken w/fingerlings & carrots

February 7th, 2008 | Filed under: entree, recipe | Tags: carrots, chicken, fingerling potatoes

Last weekend I did something I’ve never done before. Something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile, but have been too intimidated to take on. I roasted a chicken. A whole chicken. And guess what? It was really easy! It took me about 10 minutes to prepare it and toss it in a pan with potatoes, yellow carrots and garlic cloves. Then it was into the oven for a while and out came a whole dinner. All I had to do was wait around, peek inside the oven from time to time, and then dig in.

I’ve had many a roasted chicken from take-out places, the grocery store and Whole Foods, but I’d never tasted one with such juicy meat and crispy skin. This is the kind of dish that would be perfect for a post-game feast after a long day of playing or watching sports — comforting, hearty, and incredibly satisfying.

It’s true that it wasn’t quite as tasty the next day when the meat had dried up and the skin had turned into the unappetizingly brown soggyness you get at the store (the kind you should definitely peel off and throw away). The roasted vegetables were also pretty delicious. The potatoes were browned and toasted and the carrots had caramelized nicely in the bottom of the pan.

If you’re into simple, rustic dishes, you might also enjoy my Almond Nectarine Crumble, which makes a lovely dessert pairing after this hearty meal.

For a post-workout recovery or a picnic at the ballpark, leftover roast chicken is a versatile option. Whether tucked into tacos or laid over a crisp salad, it’s the kind of protein-rich fare that fuels active days. Just skip the soggy skin — no one needs that.

And if you’re into creative chicken dishes, try the Jerk Chicken, Nectarine & Goat Cheese Salad — it’s perfect for warm days and light lunches.

Roast Chicken with red Fingerling Potatoes and Yellow Carrots

1 lb. red fingerling potatoes
1 small bag baby yellow carrots
1 roasting chicken (yucky insides removed)
15 cloves of garlic
2 tbsp. kosher salt
4 tbsp. olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350°. Next, place the potatoes, carrots and 5 cloves of garlic in the bottom of a roasting pan and then fit the roasting rack over them. Thoroughly rinse your chicken, pat it dry and place on the roasting rack.

Use your hand to separate the skin from the meat and stuff the remaining 10 cloves of garlic underneath the skin. These will mellow and caramelize during the roasting, adding a creamy garlickyness to the meat. Wash your hand thoroughly after handling the chicken then sprinkle the entire pan with the salt and place in the middle of the oven.

After about 20 minutes, drizzle the entire pan with the olive oil and place back in the oven. Cook for another 25 – 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads the internal temperature at 180°. Carve and serve immediately with the roasted vegetables from the bottom of the pan.

If you’re more into crisp apples and light fruit flavors, you might also like the Classic Waldorf Salad with some twists — it’s a refreshing complement to any main dish.

More to Explore

Looking for more meals to fuel your active lifestyle or cozy game night feasts?