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Chicken Provencal w/ Honey & Lavender Recipe

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4 votes | 4761 views

I wanted to recreate the summery scents and flavors of Provence, France, so this is the result. You can inject this formula between the skin and flesh of a chicken or a duck. You can also baste your bird during the last half hour of roasting. Either way, this is an amazing taste trip to the south of France. If you have a Bandol Rose lying around, you might enjoy this dish even more...

If you grow French lavender, as we do, you want only the flowers for cooking. While I will provide the measures that I use, you should feel free to modify my recommendations as you wish. But I hope that you will try this method at least once. It really is quite unusual and makes a wonderful main course when paired with my Roasted Garlic White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and a Spring Salad with my Lime Vinaigrette Dressing.

I always roast my chickens at a high temperature for 2 hours and I always serve a moist, tender, tasty bird. Try my method once. I will use the ^ symbol for degrees F.

Prep time:
Cook time:
Servings: 2-4
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Ingredients

Cost per serving $2.59 view details
  • 1 Tbs culinary lavender, crushed
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
  • 1/2 c. raw wildflower honey
  • 1/2 c sweet butter
  • 1 lemon's juice
  • 1 1/2 tsp fresh rosemary, finely minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, finely minced
  • fine sea salt & freshly ground Tellicerry black pepper
  • 1 Roasting chicken, soaked in salt water, rinsed well and dried thoroughly
  • olive oil
  • sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425^. Clean and dry the bird well and clip the tip joints off the wings
  2. Liberally oil the bird front and back and, over a large serving bowl, liberally sprinkle the sea salt and the black pepper. Truss the bird, wing and legs. Set aside as you prepare the seasoning infusion liquid
  3. Crush the lavender flowers in a mortar to bruise and release the oils - you are not pulverizing the blooms, you are releasing the perfume
  4. In a small sauce pan, bring together, the lavender, honey, butter, garlic, lemon juice, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper to taste. Heat over a med-low flame for about 10 minutes to marry all the flavors, then strain the liquid and discard all the solids
  5. Fill a culinary injection syringe with the liquid and, entering at the neck, inject fluid into the back, between the skin and the meat. Then inject the fluid between the breast meat and skin, then the thighs and legs. Reserve the remaining fluid
  6. Carefully lay the bird, breast up, on a rack in a roasting pan to which you have added as much water as possible without touching the bottom or your roasting rack
  7. Roast the bird for 1 1/2 hours at 425^, then remove the roasting pan from the oven and baste the bird liberally with the remaining liquid.
  8. Return the bird to the oven and roast 1/2 hour more.
  9. Remove and let rest for 10 minutes, then carefully cut and remove the trussing string.
  10. You may halve or quarter the bird with poulty shears.
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Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving %DV
Serving Size 677g
Recipe makes 2 servings
Calories 1740  
Calories from Fat 1244 71%
Total Fat 139.07g 174%
Saturated Fat 55.81g 223%
Trans Fat 0.0g  
Cholesterol 585mg 195%
Sodium 760mg 32%
Potassium 1201mg 34%
Total Carbs 1.57g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0.5g 2%
Sugars 0.06g 0%
Protein 115.43g 185%

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Reviews

  • A.L. Wiebe
    September 7, 2011
    This looks amazing, Amos. How long do I soak the chicken in salt water for, please?
    • Amos Miller
      September 7, 2011
      Hi, A.L. - Frankly, I am surprised this recipe has not gotten more attention - it is outstanding and easy. To answer your question: Fill a large pot with cold water, adding a 1/2 cup of regular or Kosher salt. Give it a stir and plop any poultry in for at least 10 minutes - 15 won't hurt. Rinse the bird well under cold water. You are not brining, you are killing any lingering bacteria that may have jumped on board during processing. I learned a long time ago that knowledgable abbatoir workers ALWAYS wash meat at home prior to any prep. Beef, pork, anything, generally that has been processed commercially is a bit safer (sanitation issues) if washed at home. I hope you'll report back after trying the recipe!
      I've cooked/tasted this recipe!
      1 reply
      • A.L. Wiebe
        September 8, 2011
        Thank you, Amos. I too was surprised to have been the first to comment on this recipe.
        I have been away at work for the summer, so have gotten way behind on this site. Time for some catching up, for sure!

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