Roast Chicken with Kale Salsa Verde
Clock Image
Total: 1 hr 30 mins
‘Salsa verde’ means green sauce, and it’s usually made with fresh herbs, olive oil, capers, a splash of vinegar and a dollop of mustard. This week’s whole roast chicken comes with a super seasonal version made with leafy green kale.
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638 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 2½5kg avg. whole chicken
  • 150g kale
  • 1½ shallot
  • 1½ garlic clove
  • A handful of oregano, leaves only
  • 1½ tbsp capers
  • 1½ tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1½ tbsp Dijon mustard
From your kitchen
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
You'll need
  • Roasting tin
  • Food processor (optional)
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Heat your oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4. Take the chicken out of the fridge, unwrap it and remove the giblets (see our tip for making giblet stock). Pop the chicken in a roasting tin and set it aside for 30 mins-1hr to come to room temperature.

  • 2.

    Rub the chicken with 1 tbsp olive oil and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Slide the chicken into the oven and roast for 1 hr 15 mins, basting occasionally, till the chicken is golden and cooked through.

  • 3.

    While the chicken roasts, make the salsa verde. Strip the kale leaves off their cores and pop them in a food processor. Peel and roughly chop the shallot and garlic. Pick the oregano leaves off the sprigs. Add the shallot, garlic and oregano to the processor with 1 tbsp each capers, red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper and whizz till finely chopped and combined, adding 2 tbsp olive oil to loosen the texture. No processor? Finely chop the kale, shallots, garlic, oregano and capers and stir together in a bowl. Add the mustard, vinegar, seasoning and oil and stir to combine.

  • 4.

    Take the chicken out of the oven and check if it’s done by inserting a skewer into the thickest part of a thigh. If the juices run clear, it’s ready. If not, slide back into the oven for another 15 mins. Transfer the roast chicken to a plate or board, loosely cover with foil and set it aside to rest for 20-30 mins.

  • 5.

    Serve the roast chicken with the zingy kale salsa verde on the side.

  • Tip

    Take Stock
    A giblet stock is easy to make - just pop the giblets in a large pan with a sliced onion, chopped carrot, celery, a bay leaf and a few sprigs of thyme and parsley. Add 2 ltrs water. Cover, bring to the boil, then simmer for 2 hrs. Strain into a tub and store in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Perfect for soups, risottos and gravies.