Ingredients

Chicken and Herb Farce

• 1x3-3.5kg cornfed chicken
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp thyme leaves
• 6 sage leaves
• 1/2 a lemon
• 1/2 tsp mild paprika
• maldon salt and freshly ground black pepper
• olive oil for cooking

Vegetables

• 2 large carrots, peeled, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise and cut into 6 to 8 pieces
• 8 medium baking potatoes, washed and sliced in half
• 1 large leek white only, washed and sliced finely
• 2 tbsp melted butter (for cooking)

To Cook

• 750ml chicken or vegetable stock (you may use a stock cube)
• sprig of thyme
• a generous handful of parsley including stem
• a handful of sage including stem
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 bay leaf

Sauce

• 100g creme fraiche
• 2 tbsp of finely chopped mixed herbs eg. parsley, tarragon, chives etc.

Method

1. Chicken: Wash and dry the chicken and remove excess fat from the cavity.
2. Place the butter in a bowl and add the lemon zest, garlic, thyme and a little pepper. Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
3. Loosen the skin from between the breast meat with your hands. Fill in between the skin and breast with the herb butter and the place the sage leaves under the skin.
4. Rub the chickens skin all over with the lemon, season it with salt and pepper, and sprinkle the paprika evenly over the chicken.
5. Coat a large frying pan with the oil and place it over a high heat. When it is hot place the chicken in the pan skin side down and lower the heat slightly. Cook the chicken for around 12-15 minutes turning it after a 5-8 minutes so to seal all sides until it is golden brown.
6. To Cook: Preheat an oven to 200°C. Remove the chicken from the pan and place it in a casserole or braising pan. Place the vegetables around the chicken so that they fit snugly. Add the herbs to the pan and pour in the stock so that it half covers the potatoes. Put a lid over the pan and place it over a high heat until the stock comes to the boil.
7. Transfer the pan to the oven and leave it to cook for 45 minutes, basting the chicken every 15 minutes. Remove the potatoes and carrots from the pan and return the chicken to the oven for a further 30 minutes. Place them on a roasting tray and coat them with the melted butter (you may need a little more or use oil). Place the vegetables on the top shelf in the oven turning them after 15 minutes.
8. Remove the chicken and vegetables from the oven, place the vegetables in a warm place until ready to serve. Remove the chicken from the pan and keep it warm while you prepare the sauce.
9. Sauce: Remove the herbs and garlic from the stock. Place the pan over a high heat and bring it to the boil, then reduce to a strong simmer until the liquid has reduced down to around 200ml. Remove the stock from the heat and stir in the creme fraiche and mixed herbs until well combined. Keep the sauce warm until ready to serve.
10. To Serve: Slice the chicken and distribute evenly among 4-6 plates, placing a little dark meat, followed by the white meat in the centre of each one. Pour the sauce over the chicken and place the vegetables around the plate. Serve.