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Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

Caribbean Green Seasoning Roasted Chicken.

If you’re looking for a quick and delicious way to oven roast a chicken, I’v got such a recipe to share with you today. Mom would do something similar for us when we were kids on the islands, but heavier on the seasoning and she would cut the chicken into parts. Additionally, she never finished with the glaze as I’m about to show you.

You’ll Need…

4 lb chicken
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 heaping tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon (juice)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoon honey

  • Optional – grated ginger, pepper sauce (should you want it spicy) and sesame oil

IMPORTANT: If doing this recipe gluten free, please go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific Gluten Free Dietary needs.

The first thing we’ve got to do is to spatchcock (remove the back bone) the chicken. Please watch the video below for the step by step process. Basically you can use kitchen shears or a sharp butcher’s knife to do so. Once the backbone is remove, use your hands to press-down on the breast of the chicken to flatten it. This will drastically reduce on the cooking time in the oven.

Preheat your oven to 375 F as we season the chicken.

In a small bowl, dilute the green seasoning with the olive oil. Then apply the salt and black pepper, along with the diluted green seasoning to both sides of the chicken.

I like using a wire rack in my baking tray as I like the hot air being able to surround the chicken. Cooks faster and more even. Plus it avoids me having to flip the chicken during roasting process. Be sure to line your baking tray with foil or parchment paper to avoid a mess to clean after.

Place the seasoned chicken into the oven, on the middle rack. Around the 50 minute mark we can remove the chicken and start with the simple glaze.

Mix the honey, mustard and lemon juice, then brush it onto the skin side of the chicken and back into the oven for 5-7 minutes. You should have enough glaze for a second round of brushing. As you take out the chicken after the first glaze, crank-up your heat to 425 F.

Since we increased the heat be mindful that the sugar in the honey can burn easily, so keep an eye on things. I left the chicken in for a further 5 minutes after the last glaze and the higher heat. Please note that at no time did I cover the chicken while it roasted.

Simple, yet DELICIOUS! Allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before carving. Don’t forget to watch the video below. If you can, please support. And should you have questions about this recipe or anything food related, be sure to Ask Chris.

Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

Simple Herb Roasted Chicken.

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There’s something so comforting from not just the taste of a succlent oven roasted (say ‘bake’ chicken in the Caribbean) chicken, but that scent that permeates through your entire house originating from the kitchen. I remember being in Jamaica on vacation and roasting-off a chicken on the 4th floor of the condo complex we were staying in, and 4 floors below on the pool deck one would get the alluring whiff depending on the direction of the gentle Caribbean breeze. So simple, yet so tasty!

You’ll Need…

1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
1 tablespoon sage (chopped)
1 tablespoon rosemary (chopped)
1 tablespoon thyme (leaves)
2 cloves garlic (crushed or diced)

For stuffing..

4 sage leaves
2 sprigs rosemary
2 scallions
4 sprigs thyme

IMPORTANT! If doing this recipe gluten free, please go through the entire list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific dietary needs. If you wanted to kick things up, you can certainly add some Caribbean Sunshine (diced scotch bonnet) to the marinade.

Prep the ingredients for the marinade (dice, crush and chop). Clean and trim off any excess fat off the chicken (especially the tail area). Whisk the marinade and get ready to brush it onto the chicken.

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But before we do, lets take the sage leaves, thyme, scallions  and rosemary (no need to chop) and fill the cavity of the chicken. You may add some salt in there (not listed in the ingredient list), but I didn’t as I’m cutting back on the amount of sodium in my diet. Then liberally brush on the marinade over the chicken.

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You may certainly marinate this in the fridge for a couple hrs and overnight would give you incredible results. However all I did was the 5 minutes or so the oven preheated to 400F. Then into the oven on the middle rack. I didn’t cover the chicken as it roasted, but you can certainly tent it with some foil if you want to protect the legs and breast from going dark too fast. I did use a low-side cast iron pan, but you may use any roasting pan you like. As explained in the video (see below) the cast iron distributes the heat nicely, plus the low sides  means more surface of the chicken will be roasted.

This is what the chicken looked like after about 35 mins in the oven…

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To keep the chicken moist, feel free to keep brushing it with the oil at the bottom of the roasting pan every 10-15 minutes or so. After  1 hour and 20 mins it was done, but I wanted a bit more of a golden color, so I cranked up the “broil” setting on the oven. I believe it’s about 525 F, but for 3 mins or so as it can BURN quickly at this high temp.

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Tent with foil and allow to rest for a few minutes after you take it out the oven… before slicing through. Don’t recall mentioning it, but I did tuck the wings below the bird and a little kitchen string will be needed to secure the legs in one place. Enjoy!

Do you own a copy of my cookbook ?- The Vibrant Caribbean Pot 100 Traditional And Fusion recipes Vol 2

Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

Tasty Island Style Roasted Chicken Drumsticks.

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Here’s a quick and simple chicken dish I usually make during the cooler months when I can use the oven without overheating the entire house. During the summer months these marinated chicken pieces also make its way onto my outdoor grill.  The key with this recipe is the spiced rub we marinate the chicken with for maximum Caribbean appeal. If you decide to rock these on your outdoor grill, I’d recommend cooking them on an indirect heat or you’ll risk burning the spices and you won’t like the outcome.

You’ll Need…

4-6 lbs chicken drumsticks
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2-3 tablespoon olive oil
zest 1 orange
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon dried chives
1 teaspoon dried pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme

Optional.. 1 teaspoon smoked (spicy) paprika

Important! If doing this recipe gluten free please go through the entire list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

Grate the orange zest into a small bowl. Tip: If the oranges you have access to is coated with wax (looks bright and shiny) , avoid using them for zesting – try to get an organic orange without any wax coating. Mix in all the other ingredients (except the chicken pieces) to form a moist rub.

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Now go ahead and rub the chicken pieces with the rub (wear a gloves if you have sensitive skin.. the pepper flakes can cause issues), cover and place in the fridge to marinate for about 4 hours.

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As your oven pre-heat to 400 F remove the seasoned chicken from the fridge and allow it to come back to room temperature. I used a wire rack on a baking sheet to roast these off. This will allow for the hot air to circulate around the chicken pieces and cook evenly. Try to place then on a single layer and with a bit of space between each. You may want to line your baking sheet with tin foil for easier clean up after (the sheet is to catch any drippings) and you can use some cooking spray or brush on some vegetable oil on your wire rack. If you don’t have a wire rack, use a tinfoil-lined baking tray brushed with some vegetable oil to prevent sticking.

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At 400 F and on the middle rack of the oven, the chicken will take between 1 hour and 1 hr and 15 minutes. Depending on the size of your drumsticks.

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While these are excellent done in the oven and outdoor grill, if you have a smoker.. that’s where you’ll really have some fun with this recipe. BTW this rub works great on ribs and other cuts of pork as well… and you’re not confined to only using the drumsticks of the chicken. If using thighs or breasts, do adjust the cooking time accordingly.

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Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

Easy Roast Chicken, Memories Of My Childhood.

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This roast chicken takes me back to my childhood days visiting my godfather in Princess Town (Trinidad). His chef would usually prepare this for us for lunch… served with steaming bowls of white rice and stir-fried cabbage, carrots and bell peppers. I still remember the fear which would come over me when his massive Great Dane named “Buster” would come begging for food from me. Buster was so BIG, it’s rumored that as a kid I could easily ride him like a pony.

You’ll Need…

1 1/2 tablespoon Ginger (grated)
2 scallions (chopped)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine
1 whole chicken

Important: If doing this recipe gluten free, you’ll need to use a gluten free soy sauce (tamari) to ensure it meets with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

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Place all the ingredients (except the chicken) in a bowl and give it a good mix. I grated the ginger and chopped the scallions. Place the chicken into a zip lock bag (or bowl) and pour the marinade over it. Give it a good mix/massage and allow it to marinate in the fridge overnight or at least 2 hours. Tip: Place the bag on a plate in the fridge so if it leaks it will not spill throughout the fridge.

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Next day, preheat your oven to 375 F. I lined my baking pan with parchment paper (you may also use tin foil), placed the chicken on it and covered loosely with tin foil. I like brushing off the extra marinade before I place it on the middle rack in the oven.

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After 35 mins, remove the tin foil and crank up the oven to 400 F and back on the middle rack.

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After 30-35 minutes @ 400  you’ll have a golden chicken, with a slightly crispy skin.

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If you find that you don’t get the color you want, you can always turn on the ‘broil’ setting on your oven the last 4-5 minutes. If you do opt to use the ‘broil” setting, I’d recommend keeping a close eye on it as the heat will be HIGH (usually 525 F) and can easily burn the skin.

While not the precise recipe I grew up eating (I lost contact with my godfather over 25 yrs ago.. hopefully I can reconnect and get the actual recipe from him), it’s very similar (taste) and I assure you that this will not only be the easiest roast chicken you’ve ever made… you’ll be blown away at how juicy and flavorful this is.

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Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

Oven Roasted Chicken Drumsticks Recipe.

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Simple, Quick and Tasty! Three words which embodies this chicken recipe. I had a request on Twitter a while back asking for a simple but tasty way to do chicken in the oven on those weeknights when you want to eat well but not spend all night in the kitchen. Though I’ve shared several oven roasted chicken recipes in the past, I went into my personal repertoire, for one I do on the regular for my family.  The flavor you get from that hint of ginger, allspice and the sweetness of the roasted peppers, will definitely have your family asking for seconds.

You’ll Need..

3 lbs chicken drumsticks (chicken wings work great as well)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
8-12 grape tomatoes
2 medium onions
1 bell pepper
2 scallions
pinch allspice
2-3 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon parsley
4 sprigs thyme
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/ teaspoon grated ginger
1 clove garlic

TIP! Optionally you can add a bit of 5 spice powder and sesame oil for a lovely Asian twist. IMPORTANT: If doing this recipe gluten free, do pay attention to the ingredient list (especially the Worcestershire sauce) to ensure it meets with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

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Chop the onion, bell pepper, parsley, tomato, scallions and scotch bonnet pepper. If you’re concerned about the heat of the scotch bonnet, you can leave it out or don’t include any of the seeds nor the white membrane surrounding the seeds. That’s where the raw heat will be.

Drizzle on 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in an oven proof dish, then go in with all the other ingredients (including the chicken) and toss well. Now go in with the remaining olive oil and mix well again. Place in the fridge to marinate for a couple hours. Or if you’re in a rush, you can put it immediately into a preheated 425 F oven (middle rack).

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To protect your baking dish (less work to wash later) you can line it with tin foil. If you’re wondering.. I used the middle rack in the oven. Roast for about 45 mins and half way though, toss so all sides get that lovely golden finish. For more color you can turn on the ‘broil’ setting on the oven (about 550 F) the last 4-5 minus of cooking.

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I used the thyme with the stems as I like getting as much flavor out of it.. if you do, remove the sprigs after roasting. If you want pan juices, you can always add about 1-2 cups of chicken stock at the start of roasting. To make this a one (pot) dish you can always add some potato wedges and carrots.. adjust the salt accordingly.

Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

The Simplest Oven Roasted Chicken Ever (recipe)!

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Oven roasted chicken (baked chicken as it’s sometimes called in the Caribbean) is infamous for being dry and somewhat bland. However in this recipe I’ll not only show you how simple it is to a make a moist oven roasted chicken, we’ll apply some Caribbean seasonings (herbs) which will definitely excite your taste buds. This recipe is based on the method of seasoning chicken as it’s normally done in the Caribbean for stews, curries and grilling.

 

You’ll Need…

1 4 lb chicken
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon Caribbean green seasoning
2 tablespoon olive oil

*Notes:  To add a little kick to things, you can add some finely diced scotch bonnet pepper or a little peppersauce (hot sauce) to the marinade. Click on the following link for a recipe video on how to make Caribbean Green Seasoning: http://youtu.be/g7znPCJvhnU BTW, this is also a wonderful gluten free recipe idea.

 

If you’ve never spatchcock a chicken before , it’s very simple. Using kitchen scissors (or knife), place the whole bird on it’s breast (we sometimes say chest in the Caribbean) then using the scissors, remove the backbone off the chicken by cutting along each side of the middle main bone (see image below). Then turn over and gently press down on the breast to fatten the chicken. This method (spatchcock) will enable us to cook the chicken quicker and more evenly. Discard the back bone or save for soups and making stock.

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Wash and pat the chicken dry, then in a bowl combine all the ingredients and give it a good mix.

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Rub the entire chicken with this lovely Caribbean marinade and set in the fridge to marinate for a couple hours (cover with plastic wrap). Then place in a baking pan with a rack (if you don’t have a rack you can place on top some cut carrots, celery and onion) the idea is to allow heat to circulate around the chicken as it roasts. In my case I like adding about 1 cup of water to my pan as I find that it helps to keep the chicken moist as it roasts in the oven.

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Heat your oven to 400 F and roast on the middle rack for about 50 minutes. Half way through roasting, turn your pan so it browns evenly. If you’re using my tip for adding water in the pan, you may need to add some more after about 30 minutes.

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Allow the chicken to rest about 6-8 minutes (covered) before slicing through. I like placing the use lemon pieces in the roasting tray as it adds a lovely aroma as the chicken does it’s thing.

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Without a doubt this will be one of the simplest roasted chickens you’ve ever made and quite honestly.. the tastiest. The marinade will add a lot of flavor to this chicken and I know your family and friends will be complimenting you on a job well done.