Robert Irvine’s Free-Range Roast Chicken with Parsnip Purée
Ingredients
- 1 5-pound free-range, whole chicken
- 1 bunch thyme
- 1 bunch rosemary
- 2 lemons, halved
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 3 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into large dice
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chopped thyme
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Grapeseed oil, for drizzling
- Honey, for drizzling
- Salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 cup demi glace
For the Parsnip Purée
- 8 parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 quart milk
- Salt and white pepper
- 1 teaspoon butter
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Rinse the chicken and dry it well.
Stuff chicken cavity with herbs, lemon halves and garlic. Drizzle bird with oil and rub it all over; season with salt and pepper. Place chicken on a roasting rack set on a baking sheet. Roast for 1 hour and 45 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
When the chicken is done, place drippings in a saucepot and add flour. Over low heat, stir to cook the flour, a minute or so, then add the stock and the demi glace. Bring to a slight simmer and reduce slowly for 3 minutes.
Serve chicken on a platter surrounded by the roasted veggies with the sauce on the side.
For the Parsnip Purée, place the parsnips in a pot with the milk. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Strain parsnips in a colander, reserving the milk.
Purée parsnips in a vita prep or stand mixer until they reach a mashed potato-like consistency, using the reserved milk to thin them out if necessary. Season with salt and pepper to taste.