Microwave roasted chicken
When I first bought a microwave, I vowed never to do a roast chicken in it. As a child, I'd be subjected to my parents' experiements with their first microwave and thought, not for me.
This is very civilised, quick, and low effort. Tastes and looks good.
Microwave roast chicken
Ingredients
- A raw chicken, 1.626kg - the weight is vital to know, 12 minutes per 450g (please see Microwave roaster).
- Half a packet of paxo stuffing
(85g with 7½ fl.oz of water - yes, I know mixed units but trust me, this works). - 1½ potatoes per person (see NB) - or two new potatoes per person (see NB2).
- Half a courgette.
- Leeks.
- Red pepper.
- Broccoli broken into florets - typically 1 or 2 per person.
- 5 baby tomatoes.
Directions
- Make up the paxo or use fresh stuffing.
- Optionally: add 15ml sunflower oil to a glass roasting pan. If you have a plump chicken, this can make the roasties a bit soggy. if you're finding this is the case, use 5ml oil and rub around the dish.
- Quarter peeled potatoes and prepare to parboil for 5 minutes or add to the bottom of the roasting dish. See NB and NB2.
- Stuff the chicken and lay it upside down.
- Set the combination microwave to 190°C and simmer and set timer to half the time for the dish.
- Add the potatoes when there is 45 minutes to go.
- When the timer pings, turn the chicken over.
- Lay the courgettes on top and do the rest of the time.
(If you are doing a lot of extra vegetables, add an extra 5 minutes!). - Add red peppers and leeks when there are 10 minutes to go.
- Add broccoli florets when there are 5 minutes to go.
- Serve normally.
Serve with boiled vegetables and chicken gravy.
NB: it is worth parboiling the potatoes (put potatoes in cold water, bring to the boil for 5 minutes) if the timer is less than 55 minutes to ensure the potatoes are cooked). The "roasties" are a little different cooked this way, more baked than crispy. Not unpleasant but difinetly not equivalent.
NB2: New potatoes do not need to be parboiled - merely wash and place around bird when there are 45 minutes to go. They are seriously delicious.
Afterwards, make microwave chicken stock from scratch.
