Saturday 25 August 2012

A Simple Roast Chicken


Last Saturday I was at the supermarket again. It was one day before Hari Raya. Even though it was still early, the crowd of last minute shoppers was building up and the festive mood was in the air. I don't like crowds and generally like to be there at 10:00am when it is usually quiet.


I had already picked up the veges in my basket and the last item I needed was a chicken. I noted that a particular branded chicken that used to cost RM19.90 per bird was now selling at RM22.90 each. They were all piled up in a heap in the chiller without any ice. I was apprehensive and moved on to the other choices. At least they were covered in ice.

Upon making my selection, I promptly handed the bird to the nice Pakcik (Uncle) for weighing and pricing. For the benefit of non-Asian readers not already familiar with Asian custom, we address an older person as Uncle or Aunty as a mark of respect. But please, kids, don't call me Aunty. Even if you are two. A respectful Cher-Cher, Kakak or Sister will be fine by me.

After Pakcik handed the chicken to me, I quickly made my way to the check-out counter. Back home, I put the veges away and prepared the chicken. 




I also made the marinade and noted down the amounts used. I don't usually do that of course, this was just for the sake of writing the recipe.



And I decided to note down the weight of the chicken too. As I peered at the price tag, I was astounded. Guess how much I paid for the chicken?



That's right, RM1.04 for a 1.2kg chicken. I normally check the price tag but I was in a hurry to leave. Had I seen that, I would have informed Pakcik immediately. And strangely, the cashier didn't notice it either. I guess everyone was in a holiday mood and the RM1.04 chicken escaped their attention.


Now on to my marinade. Have you ever just tossed something together without following a recipe? This was one of those moments. Just going with the flow. I mixed tomato ketchup, sweet chilli sauce, honey, soya sauce, Lee Kum Kee Spare Rib Sauce, black vinegar and grapeseed oil. I tasted it and it was pretty good. Feel free to add your personal touch to the marinade and I am sure you will come up with something to improve on this one.


Simple Roast Chicken

- 1 whole chicken (about 1.2kg)(I butterflied the chicken by cutting through the backbone)

Marinade
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
- 1 tablesspoon sweet chilli sauce
- 1 tablespoon Lee Kum Kee spare rib sauce
- 1 tablespoon light soya sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon black vinegar (Balsamic if you are feeling extravagant)
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (or any other vegetable oil)
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed skin on

For basting make another batch of the above marinade minus the oil.
Method
- Mix all the marinade ingredients together.
- Put chicken into a plastic bag and pour marinade in.
- Seal the bag and toss it around to ensure that the chicken is evenly coated with marinade.
- Leave in the fridge for at least 4 hours or preferable overnight (I left it overnight)
- Bring the chicken to room temperature before roasting at 180C for about 40 to 45 minutes.
- Baste the chicken with extra marinade every 15 minutes or so.

Note : Place chicken breast side down and after 30 minutes of roasting, turn it breast side up and continue roasting until chicken is cooked.


Chicken, marinade and freezer bag

Chicken in the bag. Marinate overnight in the chiller.
Put on lined baking tray to roast.

It turned out quiet well.
















34 comments:

  1. Sooooooo cheap!!! They typed wrongly eh? Certainly looks good, bet it tasted good too! Yummmm!!!!!

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    1. I think Pakcik was distracted and punched in the wrong figures. God's way of compensating me for the not so fresh Japanese mushrooms that I bought a few times :)

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  2. Hi Phong Hong, yoohhooooo.... I want to book the chicken wing. Your roast chicken look awesome, finger licking good...... yum yum
    Very well baked, the color look so nice.

    Have a nice weekend.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks,Amelia. Next time I book the wings for you. You have a great weekend too!

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  3. Hi Phong Hong, very 'special' price during festive season!!!!. Sometimes we also pay more. BTW, I can see it is yummy and thanks for showing the photos on how it is roasted.

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    1. Hi Kimmy, that was my Hari Raya present from the supermarket. Hah! Hah!

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  4. Wow, what a "bargain"! Your roasted chicken looks really delicious! We absolutely love roasted chicken and my family would be all smiles if served this for our dinner! Thanks for sharing! Have a great weekend!

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    1. It was a surprise bargain! Roasted chicken is always a firm favorite with my family too.

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  5. Wow! What a steal! A great holiday gift indeed. Perhaps they were in a charitable mood, considering the season :)
    Simple is always good, I say.

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  6. Looks delicious! never tried doing a whole chicken this way. great looking

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Swasthi! Next time you could try a whole chicken. Its really simple to do.

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  7. Sometimes these "on the whim" recipes turn out so well, dont they? :) your roast chicken looks super yummy and moist, good job!

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    1. Thanks, Esther! Going by instincts sometimes works out. But I did have some other disasters too when the flavours didn't quite match up.

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  8. Wow, really, $1.04 for a whole chicken??? You are lucky but unlucky for the pakcik if the supermarket management found out!! Simple ingredient marinade in chicken will do and makes the roast chicken simply delicious too! Your family must have love this chicken very much

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    1. Mel, very cheap lah....once in a lifetime event! Yes, my family loved it. Sometimes, simple is the best thing.

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  9. What a bargain for a whole chicken! Wonder what distracted the Pakcik? Possibly the nice Kakak who bought the chicken (namely YOU)? :P Anyway, your roast chicken looks delicious and loved the colour. Good job Phong Hong!

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    1. Thanks, Veronica for your kind words and encouragement! No lah, this Kakak is an old chicken already. Pakcik was probably anxious about the next day's celebration :)

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  10. I've also posted a chicken recipe today but very different. "Ngum lah," I have your roasted chicken, & you have my Hainanese chicken, no fight, je je, no fight, haha!

    I know how this chicken taste like, licking my lips now. I used ketchup, sweet chilli sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce..... to make my chilli crab before & this is why I said earlier I know how this chicken taste like, similar, similar, ok?

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    1. Good lah, just like we purposely pakat to cook chicken! Hmm..I think your sauce is very good to use as chicken marinade. Very similar lah, and both very good also :)

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  11. Rm 1 for a bird of chicken, this is like kena lottery, hahaha..I agreed what Jessie said, i know how the taste like too by looking at the seasonings that you use, must be yummy!

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    1. Sonia, I prefer to kena lottery. Hah! Hah! Hah! My luck only good to kena small prize :)

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  12. phong hong cheh cheh or mui mui, your chicken looks delicious and the colour is so nicely browned and golden! must be so delicious!! sure, i'm so many of us have made our own marinades without a recipe, what we see is what we put in..LOL! kidding. wah, RM1 for a chicken! lelong! lelong! hahaha!

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    Replies
    1. That was really lelong fire sales. Hah! Hah! Should have bought two chickens :)

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  13. I've been looking for a good red marinade for chicken.I love the thickness of it and how it clings to the meat!

    Just a great way to savory roast a bird!

    Cheers!

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    1. Toby, I bet you could come up with a killer variation with this. When it comes to marinades, less is more doesn't work.

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  14. LOL...a holiday treat for you from the supermarket :)

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  15. This looks so yummy, I want to try this one day :)

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    1. Hi Li Shuan! Hope you try because I think you will like it :)

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  16. It's interesting , using vinegar to marinate the chicken. I should try it next day!

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    Replies
    1. I was told that vinegar will tenderise the chicken or any meat. It works quiet well and it makes the marinade slightly tangy.

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