Chef Cathal Armstrong's Roast Chicken and Gravy

By LRay

By rubbing the Irish butter, garlic and herbs under the skin of the chicken, it becomes coated with those delicious flavors as it bastes in its own juices. The lemons, rosemary and garlic add aromatic flavor from the inside out, permeating every ounce of the chicken and giving each bite a wonderfully sumptuous quality. Thanks to Chef Cathal Armstrong for this Irish gem.

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons Kerrygold Pure Irish Unsalted Butter, divided
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons chopped thyme
• 1 whole medium-size chicken
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 lemons cut in half
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 1 head of garlic cut in half
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken stock

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from kerrygoldusa.com

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 400° F. Mix 5 tablespoons of the Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter, garlic, and thyme in a bowl with a spoon until soft. Carefully, using your fingers, peel the skin away from the chicken breast and rub the butter mixture under the skin. Rub the outside of the skin with the canola oil and season with the salt and pepper.

Stuff the cavity of the chicken with the lemons, rosemary and garlic head. Place the chicken in a roasting pan and roast 1 hour or until juices from the thigh run clear when pricked with a knife. Remove from oven and let chicken rest on a platter while you make the gravy. Put the roasting pan on a burner over low heat, sprinkle in the flour, and stir to incorporate any liquid in the pan. Gradually add the chicken stock, stirring constantly. Transfer the gravy into a small pot, and simmer over low heat until it has the preferred consistency. Add additional salt and pepper to taste and whisk in remaining 1 tablespoon of butter; strain the gravy through a fine mesh sieve before pouring it onto the chicken (which will have released some juice onto the plate by now).

Serves 4 to 6.

by Chef Cathal Armstrong