Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes And Salsa Verde. Hello friends, so how are you today?

Fancy trying this Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken with Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes and Salsa Verde recipe?

In true Italian fashion, here’s a Mediterranean-influenced salad with a whole roast chicken that’s ideal for sharing with friends and family. So tasty.

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes And Salsa Verde.

Updated Post. First published here 11th July 2017.

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes And Salsa Verde

Table Of Contents:

  • Firstly, Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes And Salsa Verde Ingredients.
  • Secondly, Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes And Salsa Verde method.
  • Thirdly, Other Recipe Ideas.

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken with Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes and Salsa Verde:

Serves 4 as a main meal

Prep time: 40 minutes | Cooking time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 x 1.5kg whole chicken
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp chopped thyme
  • 1 tbsp chopped rosemary
  • 1 tbsp chopped oregano
  • 2 bulbs garlic, separated into cloves (unpeeled)
  • 150g watercress
  • 75g sun-blushed tomatoes
  • 75g black pitted olives
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • Salt and pepper

For The Salsa Verde:

  • 1 bunch flat parsley, finely chopped
  • One bunch basil, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp capers
  • 6 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 8-10 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • Salt and pepper

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes And Salsa Verde:

Method:

  1. Firstly, preheat the oven to 220°C. Rub the chicken all over with the olive oil, then season inside and out with salt and pepper and place in an oven tray, breast side up. Rub the chopped herbs over the chicken and scatter the garlic cloves in the baking tray. Place in the oven and roast for 15 minutes.
  2. Turn the heat down to 180°C. Gently pour ½ of the wine over the chicken, being careful not to disturb the herb crust. Place back into the oven and roast for a further 15 minutes.
  3. Reduce the oven temperature to 150°C. Pour the remaining wine over the chicken and roast for a further hour, or until cooked through. To check the bird is fully cooked, insert a knife into the inner thigh and make sure the flesh is cooked right through to the bone. Alternatively, use a meat thermometer. The inner thigh temperature should register 70°C.
  4. While the chicken rests, make the salsa verde. Mix together the parsley, basil, anchovies and capers. Then add the olive oil until desired consistency is reached. Add the lemon juice, mustard and salt and pepper, tasting as you go. Adjust seasoning to taste. Alternatively, this sauce can be made by whizzing everything in a food processor, although the hand-chopped rustic version is preferred by some!

Making The Salad:

Salad:

  • Finally, construct the salad. Tip the roasting juices out of the chicken and pour into a bowl. Peel the roasted garlic cloves and add to the bowl along with the tomatoes and olives. Add the watercress and mix well, then divide salad between four plates.
  • Last but not least, carve the chicken and serve with the salsa verde on the side.
Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes And Salsa Verde.

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress:

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes And Salsa Verde.

Recipe courtesy of: Make the most of the Summer and enjoy healthy alfresco dining with these and other great salad recipes featuring Watercress.

Photography Credits: Lara Jane Thorpe.

So what do you think about this recipe? Do you also fancy trying it? Because I do.

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Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress:

Thank you so much for stopping by. I also hope you liked this post?

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress. These recipes were also created by development chef Keri Astill-Frew.

Keri has worked in top restaurants across the UK including a Michelin star hotel in Lancashire and a variety of fine dining restaurants and gastro-pubs in Dorset and Sussex.

Italian Herb-Roasted Chicken With Watercress

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Claire Justine Oxox- Over 50s Lifestyle Blog. You can also read more about me here: Over 50s Lifestyle Blog

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Claire Justine Oxox- Over 50s Lifestyle Blog. You can also read more about me on my Over 50s Lifestyle Blog Page.

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2 Comments

  1. Heather{Our Life In a Click}
    30 June 2017 / 11:43

    The salad and salsa verde look amazing!

    • 5 October 2017 / 14:14

      Thanks for the comment Heather.