Cumin Spiced Whole Chicken With Stuffing Recipe

How To Prepare Cumin Spiced Whole Chicken With Stuffing?

Ingredients:

• 1 Whole chicken

• 3-4 tbsp grape molasses

• 1l chicken stock

• 20g butter

For the spice rub

• pinch ground cumin

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• 5 cardamom pods, seeds removed and lightly crushed

• 1 tsp ground black pepper

• ½ tsp grated nutmeg

• 3 cloves, crushed

• ½ tsp ground coriander

• 2 tbsp olive oil

For the cavity aromatics

• 3 cardamom pods

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 100g green grapes

• 1 tsp grape molasses

For the stuffing

• 250g pork mince

• 125g salted roasted pistachios, finely crushed

• 50g pistachio paste or ground pistachios

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed

• 2.5cm piece ginger, grated

• 2 tsp grape molasses

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 150g unsalted butter, softened

Instructions:

1. Make the stuffing by blending the ingredients with 1 tsp salt in a food processor, taking care not to purée it – a little bit of crunch here & there makes it all the more satisfying. Check the seasoning by frying a tsp of the stuffing & tasting – adjust if you need to.
2. Put a piece of cling film on a chopping board & dollop on the stuffing, patting it out to rough circle just smaller than the surface of the breast meat to be covered. Make the layer thicker at one end, for the bottom end of the breasts where the meat is thinner – the extra thickness will help to keep it juicy & cook evenly. Cover with cling film & chill for 30 mins to set.
3. Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Pat the chicken dry all over using kitchen paper. From the neck end, push your fingers under the layer of skin on the breasts & wriggle them gently to release the skin & open up the pocket for the stuffing. Push right down – you will need to cover the entire breast meat area with the stuffing – but be careful not to tear the skin.
4. Make the spice rub by combining all the ingredients. Rub it generously over the chicken & inside the cavity, then insert the aromatics into the cavity. Unwrap the stuffing, halve it, then push half under the skin of each of the breasts, thin end first. Cover the chicken loosely with foil so the spices don’t burn.
5. Roast the chicken for 1 hr 10 mins. Mix 3 tbsp grape molasses with 1 tbsp hot water, brush over the skin, then increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 & return the chicken for 20 mins to crisp up the skin. Baste twice more with molasses at 5-min intervals. Test the chicken in the thigh & breast to make sure it is cooked – the juices should run clear. Take the cavity aromatics out of the chicken & set aside (don’t worry if you can’t get them all). Leave the chicken to rest for 45 mins somewhere warm, but don’t cover the skin so it stays crisp.
6. Meanwhile, pour the fat out of the roasting tin, leaving the juices behind. Add a little chicken stock & the cavity aromatics to the tin & bring to a boil, then sieve into a pan. Add the rest of the stock, simmer until reduced by half, then stir in 1 tsp grape molasses. Just before serving, add the resting juices from the chicken to the pan & bring the sauce back to the boil. Taste for seasoning & stir in the butter.