• Chicken, potatoes and gravy are quintessential components of a traditional family meal, but they’re in need of an update. Stuffed whole-roasted chicken with baby potatoes and gravy might look too elegant to be easy, but this delicious dish really isn’t too difficult. Give family dinner a flavourful new favourite.

    Stuffed whole-roasted chicken with baby potatoes and gravy

    Serves: 2 - 4
    Cooking Time: 1 hr 50 mins

    Ingredients

    • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    • 3 baby marrows, top and tailed
    • 6 baby onions, halved
    • 4 carrots, peeled and cut to size
    • 150ml olive oil
    • 1 whole chicken
    • 50g mixed herbs, chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

    Instructions

    1

    Preheat the oven to 180°C. Season the marrows, onions and carrots and splash with 80ml (½ cup) of the oil. Rub the seasoning well into the vegetables.

    2

    Gently stuff the vegetables into the cavity of the chicken.

    3

    Use kitchen string to tie the legs of the chicken together to hold the vegetables inside.

    4

    To a small bowl add the herbs, garlic and butter and combine well.

    5

    Gently place the butter mixture between the skin and the flesh of the chicken but be careful not to tear the skin.

    6

    Place the potatoes in a roasting dish, season and drizzle with 45ml (3 tbsp) of the oil. Rub the oil all over the potatoes.

    7

    Place the chicken on top of the potatoes. Rub the outside of the chicken with salt, pepper and the remaining oil. Roast until the juices run clear, about 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken. Drain the pan juices into a bowl and whisk to emulsify into a gravy.

    8

    Remove the string and take the vegetables out the chicken. Place the vegetables and potatoes on a plate, top with sliced chicken and drizzle with gravy.

    Notes

    To drink: A luscious Viognier like Eagles Nest is full of fruity apricots, a delicious match with chicken.