Two roast chickens with scalloped potatoes

So often sharing a roast is the best way to spend a Sunday and one chicken is never enough with hungry teenagers around, so try this simple recipe to share with the gang. Chicken is great value but always buy free-range.

Two roast chickens with scalloped potatoes

SERVES

8

PEOPLE

PREP TIME

10

MINUTES

COOKING TIME

90

MINUTES

Ingredients

  • 2 oven-ready whole chickens (about 1.75kg/3lb 14oz each)

  • 8 fresh bay leaves

  • Small bunch of sage leaves

  • 1 large lemon, halved

  • 55g (2oz) butter, softened

  • 1 tbsp paprika

  • 1 large bulb garlic, halved horizontally

  • 150ml (¼ pint) white wine

  • 300ml (½ pint) chicken stock

  • 55g (2oz) plain flour

  • A little gravy browning (optional)

  • For the scalloped potatoes: 
    1.2kg (2lb 12oz) peeled potatoes, very thinly sliced into discs

  • 1 onion, thinly sliced

  • 55g (2oz) butter, cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing

  • 600ml (1 pint) chicken stock

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas 6 and grease a shallow 1.8 litre (3¼ pint) ovenproof dish.

  2. Place the chickens on a board. Place half the bay leaves, a third of the sage and a lemon half in the cavity of each bird.

  3. Mix the butter and paprika together in a small bowl. Spread over the breasts of the birds and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

  4. Place the remaining sage, garlic, wine and stock into the base of a large roasting tin. Put a large grill rack on top and sit the chickens side by side on the rack.

  5. To make the potato gratin, arrange a layer of sliced potato in the base of the prepared dish. Scatter the onion and a few cubes of butter over the top and pour in a little stock. Season well and repeat the layers,

  6. including the stock, finishing with a layer of potato. Cover the dish with buttered foil.

  7. Slide the chickens on to the top shelf of the oven and the potatoes on the shelf below. Roast both for about 1½ hours, removing the foil from the potatoes after 45 minutes. Keep an eye on the chickens – if they are getting too brown, then cover with foil. Once the chickens are golden and cooked through, and the potatoes are tender, remove from the oven.

  8. Cover the chickens and potatoes with foil and set aside while you make the gravy.

  9. Strain the juices and stock from the roasting tin into a jug. Skim off as much fat as possible from the jug and reserve. You will need 450ml (¾ pint) liquid from the roasting tin; add extra stock if you need to increase the amount.

  10. Return the fat to the roasting tin and sprinkle in the flour. Stir over the heat for a few seconds, then whisk in the strained stock. Continue to whisk until thickened and smooth. Check the seasoning and add a little gravy browning, if liked.

  11. Carve the chickens and serve with the potatoes, gravy and a green vegetable alongside.

    From 'Cook and Share: 120 Delicious New Fuss-free Recipes' by Mary Berry published by Penguin. 

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