Subtly sweet, wonderfully aromatic and a comfort food through and through, this recipe for Blackberry-Thyme Roasted Chicken is over-the-top delicious. And it presents beautifully for a casual dinner party.
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I have big, exciting news!
It’s not what you might be thinking — I didn’t get a cookbook deal or win the lottery, and 2 kids are plenty. 😉
This is food news, my friends. My husband, a Pescatarian (who doesn’t eat bottom feeders — don’t ask), for 21 years, decided to bring meat and poultry back into his diet. Big news, right? Oh yes it is!
I couldn’t be more excited. After all, I love braising brisket for hours, making slow-cooked stews, and having the house on the block with the wonderful aroma of a roasting chicken seeping out of its windows. And really, is there anything better than sharing a bunch of “small plates” at your favorite restaurants!?
My husband jumped right in, and for the past couple of weeks has been trying it all — including this unbelievably succulent, deliciously flavored roasted chicken, which I’m hoping you’ll love as much as he did.
In honor of my husband, let’s have a little contest, shall we?
So why after so many years did my husband make this decision? I want you to see if you can guess the answer.
When the contest is over, I’ll tell you his answer, but to enter all you have to do is make a guess. I’ll be using Random.org to choose a winner, who will get a cooking gift from me. A surprise gift and I can only tell you, it’s for people who love to cook with meat and/or poultry, and I promise you’ll dig it.
THE ANSWER IS HERE — CONTEST {closed as of 9/12/14}
Subtly sweet, wonderfully aromatic and a comfort food through and through, this recipe is over-the-top delicious.
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- about 1 1/3 cup fresh blackberries, divided
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 approximately (4-pound) whole chicken
- a few sprigs of fresh thyme for garnish
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Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
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In a small bowl, combine the softened butter with ⅓ cup of the blackberries, and use the back of a small fork to mash them. Then add the lemon zest, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix until it's relatively smooth (there will be pieces of blackberries throughout). Set aside.
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Remove the insides of the chicken, and pat dry with paper towels.
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Spread about 2 tablespoons of the blackberry-thyme butter on the bottom of a small roasting pan that's at least a couple of inches larger than the chicken, on all sides.
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Place the chicken in the pan, on top of the butter, breast side up. Rub the blackberry-thyme butter mixture under the skin. (This should include the breasts and legs.) Work your way under as much of the skin as possible -- if you're very gentle, it won't tear.
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Now truss the chicken with butcher's twine. Here's how. (It's also okay to just tie the ends of the legs together if trussing it becomes tricky.)
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Rub the remaining blackberry-thyme butter mixture on top -- all over the skin of the chicken.
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Being sure the chicken is breast side up, place the pan in the preheated 500 degree F oven and roast until the surface of the chicken is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and reduce the heat to 350 F degrees.
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Very carefully, using tongs, placing one part inside the cavity and one gently on the top of the breast side, flip the chicken over so it's breast side down.
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Once the oven has cooled to 350 degrees F, continue to roast the chicken until internal temperature is 155 degrees -- this should take about an hour, but focus only on the temperature and not the time. (For an accurate reading of the temperature, place the thermometer deep into the flesh, away from bones.) During the roasting process, every 15 or so, use a spoon to baste the chicken with the butter and juices from the bottom of the pan.
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The final internal temperature will be about 165 degrees, as the chicken will continue to cook for several minutes outside of the oven. It should be nicely browned, the juices should run clear and the legs should move easily when it's done. (If you think it's getting too brown before the chicken is cooked, lightly cover it with foil in the oven.)
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When you remove the chicken from the oven, baste it again, and then use a few pieces of crumbled foil to tilt the it (place them beneath one end), so the breast end is down. This allows all of the juices to flow to the breasts. Wait at least 15 minutes before carving.
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Use the remaining 1 cup of the blackberries and the thyme sprigs for garnish.
Mandy says
The smell of bacon finally became too much to resist, luring him to the carnivore side like a gateway drug of salty goodness.
Tara says
It is much easier to find small scale sustainably raised, cleaner, naturally fed meat to complete a healthy diet.
Desi says
One day he just said, you know I think I’ll try a very small taste of this bacon, and the rest was history. Because bacon is addictive.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
I think he said to himself, “There is a reason we are at the top of the food chain. I’m going to eat everything in moderation, and all will be well.” And everyone lived happily ever after.
italian chef says
He realized his wife was a great cook…and decided to take full advantage…the more meat the merrier! LOL
Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought says
He had a dream that meat was now good to eat. 🙂
Kelly @ Tasting Page says
He smelled that beautiful roast chicken of your’s and decided he just couldn’t resist anymore!
Karen says
Perhaps he has long wanted to try whatever you are making and decided that he would try the animal proteins as well. He may have also felt that his health could include a diet with some items from the entire food pyramid; including animal protein.
valentina says
I’m loving these guesses! Keep them coming! 😀
Mike says
I’m thinking it goes back to you growing up on a farm in Sloan Iowa!
Jackie Watson says
Maybe he was a little anemic?
Kara says
He thought he would look better with a little meat on his bones 🙂 ?
Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash says
He realized that you only go around once, so why limit yourself from all the bounty around you, which in your household has to be plenty.
Tari Lawson says
He began working out and realized that meat protein would help him get the muscular look he desired.
Christina says
I’m happy for you, Valentina that your cooking possibilities have opened right up! That chicken looks delectable, and I’m going with a meat thermometer as your surprise gift! CC
Christina says
Okay, I totally misread the question!! DOH! Hmmm…that’s a much harder question! He missed having hamburgers? I have NO idea!!
M Plouff says
Um, hubby went to the Farmers Market with you and met a couple of local producers of high quality meat and poultry?
Michelle H. says
He felt too weak from a lack of protein?
Ericka @Nibblesnfeasts says
Because your cooking is just too delicious to pass up!
Linda Whittig says
He realized that salad is what food eats. 🙂
Judy says
I have been looking for fruit based recipe like this, I can’t wait to make it.
Jeanne @JollyTomato says
Darn – all of the good guesses are already taken! : ) I’ll go out on a limb… Because he is concerned about ocean pollution and potentially harmful contamination found in fish?
Jenny Hartin says
Because Bacon!!!
Sharyl Wolter says
He realized that he had felt awful for 21 years!
valentina says
these are great! more please! 🙂
Jennifer Short says
Because he missed it?
mary allison says
A man cant live by bread alone
lisa c says
I am thinking he is looking for something more and decided life is too short to have limits on what he eats. Unless of course, you’re allergic. I’m a big fish lover too, but sometimes you just want to enjoy a heartier texture than that flaky piece of fish and really you can only dip into your spouses port or red wine sauce drizzled on their steak so many times before you have to admit it doesn’t quite “go” with your fish. 😉
Calli says
You love cooking. He loves you.
Aaron B says
Maybe he is finally caving in to the bacon craze of the last few years. There are many people that say bacon is the gateway meat that brings people back to eating meat again!
deana c says
My guess is that his body was missing some form of vitamin from eating meat so he was craving it.
Margot C says
I think that he just re-thought this whole food-chain thing and came to the earth shattering realization that being at the top has its advantages – like not feeling weak all of the time and having some stamina.
Carolyn G says
I am going to guess a hot dog
Danielle says
Couldn’t remember what it tasted like so he thought he would give it a try again.
David says
First, I have to say that the chicken looks amazing! What a unique combination of flavors – will definitely try this (if blackberries are still producing in Tucson!). It will be interesting to know why the change – will look forward to the answer to this mystery!
valentina says
Thanks David. I’m trying to use blackberries where I can because they’re just do pretty! (And apparently really healthy!)
Tina W says
I’m going to guess he was worried about the reports of soy products raising your estrogen levels. (That would freak my fiance out!)
valentina says
Tina, this might be my favorite one yet. 😉
Jill Myrick says
To add more protein into his diet.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Heather Johnson says
He missed it
Erica B. says
His body needed it.
Lara says
Could be like a friend of mine…the smell of hot dogs at a cookout finally wore her down!
Francine Anchondo says
He just wanted too.
Karen D says
He decided to go Paleo, which is virtually impossible if you don’t use animal proteins.
jules m. says
he finally got sick of seafood.
Mary W says
Because meat is delicious!
Robin Chesser says
He missed the hanging around the grill extolling on all the glorious meats that could be grilled and decided to come back to meat Utopia.
Mary Beth Elderton says
Maybe he just got hungry for meat…the way a body seems to crave what it needs.
Amy Sund says
Because the kitchen gadget or spice is so great that he couldn’t resist eating what wonderfulness you made.
Melissa says
because he got tired of beans
Darla Peduzzi says
He did it for you 🙂
Monica says
Because there is nothing like biting into a juicy burger! You can’t do that with tofu.
Diane Baum says
He is getting older and wants the benefits of protein-on hair, body weight…
Sarah Jestings says
I think he just missed the taste. I know I would 🙂
Stephanie Galbraith says
He had heard of some recipes that sounded interesting and he wanted to make them. And obviously he couldn’t make them and not eat them.
Laurie Emerson says
He was going through your cookbook or recipe cards and came across it
Carolyn Daley says
My guess is that he loves blackberries and could not resist trying this roasted chicken. My second guess would be that he needed protein or that he was told by a doctor that meat was essential for his health.
Sonya says
He wants meat because he keeps missing out on all of your delicious meals!
Karen T Gonyea says
I think he did it because how Soy products are being created now and how it’s much easier to get organic, grass feed meats now.
Ada M says
Because bacon! Really, though, I’m guessing some kind of protein or vitamin thing; that’s what it’s been for me. It’s also easier to source ethically-produced meats now than a couple decades ago.
amy tolley says
im guessing he was missing a good ole steak with onions and mushrooms right off the grill….he wanted to expand his food choices
susan smoaks says
i think that he chose to eat meat again because he wanted a hamburger!
jonquil says
He had a Technicolor dream about fried chicken.
Richard Hicks says
Doctor said he had low iron and meat has lots in it
Jackie says
He saw buffalo chicken pizza and really, really wanted a slice and decided to go for it.
Sharon says
I think he decided his body needed meat to live a longer healthier life.
Sarah says
Because the idea of your cooking with beef and pork is too hard to resist. Amazing recipes are too hard to handle and irresistible.
Sand says
He wanted to try a dessert that incorporated bacon and that did it!
Karen D says
Just checking back about why he decided.
valentina says
Hi Karen, I put this up on Saturday —> 16 Best Meat Recipes and Surprise Giveaway Revealed! Enjoy. 🙂