Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken

By Joanks

Ingredients

• 1 (5 - 6 pound) roasting chicken
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large bunch fresh thyme
• 4 lemons
• 3 heads garlic, cut in half crosswise
• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 pound sliced bacon
• 1 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup chicken stock

Details

Servings 3

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Place the chicken in a large roasting pan.
Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the thyme , reserving enough thyme to garnish the chicken dish, 1 lemon, halved, and 2 halves of garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Cut 2 of the lemons in quarters and scatter the quarters and remaining garlic around the chicken. Lay the bacon slices over the chicken to cover.

Roast the chicken for 1 hour. Remove the bacon slices from the top of the chicken and set aside. Continue roasting the chicken for an additional 1/2 hour, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove to a platter and cover with aluminum foil while you prepare the gravy.

Remove all but 2 Tablespoons of the fat from the bottom of the pan. Add the wine and chicken stock and bring to a boi. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until reduced by half.

Slice the chicken and place on a platter. Garnish with the bacon slices, roasted garlic, reserved thyme and 1 lemon sliced. Serve with gravy.