For Marinade | |
1 scotch bonnet, habanero or serrano chili pepper, seeded and chopped | |
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro | |
2 green onions, very thinly sliced | |
1 large garlic clove, minced | |
1 teaspoon ground allspice | |
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg | |
2 tablespoon lime juice | |
1 tablespoon cider vinegar | |
1 tablespoon brown sugar | |
1 tablespoon vegetable oil |
Chicken | |
1 chicken (3 lb./1.5 kg) | |
Salt to taste | |
Lime wedges for squeezing |
Marinating the Chicken | |
1. | Combine the ingredients for the marinade (listed above) in a small bowl. |
2. | Place the chicken in a shallow dish, breast side up with wings untucked from the body |
3. | Brush the outside of the chicken with the marinade, coating it all over. |
4. | Wrap the chicken in plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 hours, brushing from time to time with marinade that drips off the sides of the bird |
5. | Preheat oven to 375 F. |
6. | Remove chicken from marinade and et in shallow roasting pan, breast side up. |
7. | Tie legs of the chicken together with kitchen string. Fold and tuck wings back under the body. |
8. | Brush chicken with remaining marinade and season with salt. |
9. | Roast 50 minutes. |
10. | Baste with pan juices. |
11. | Roast another 25 minutes, basting with pan juices again. |
12. | Roast another 10 to 15 minutes, or until meat thermometer placed in the deepest part of the thigh without touching the bone reads 170 F. |
13. | Place roasted chicken on plate loosely tented with aluminum foil and let rest for at least 10 minutes. |
14. | Carve and serve with lime wedges and rice or white kidney beans. |
Options: For those who do not want to chop up a hot pepper, it can be replaced with 1 teaspoon or more (to taste) of dried, crushed chili flakes. For less fiery taste, use 1 or 2 small-to-medium-sized jalapenos instead of the scotch bonnet, habanero, or serrano peppers. |