When I was growing up, my Dad used to roast the Sunday chicken in one of those silvery plastic oven roasting bags. It would steam up into the shape of a over blown balloon, keeping those gorgeous chicken-y flavours tightly wrapped up.
With much pomp and ceremony, Dad would gingerly poke a hole in the bag and with the snap of the wrist slice the bag open to release the mouth watering delicious aroma.
These bags disappeared from my sight for a while...but I have recently re-discovered them and now I too can look like a magician as my son stands and watches me flick the wrist and release that comforting smell of roasted chicken.
 |
| Picture: terinex.co.uk |
To be honest, I can't remember Mama ever using a roasting bag. But my Dad made the best roast chicken (sorry Mama) and he never once made a roast without these brilliant bags.
I used one just last night. Our family is trying to eat more healthily and I am struggling to come up with recipes that are low in fat, tasty and most important...can help me sneak in veggies for my dear "non-vegetable loving" husband of mine.
Give this a bash...just be careful not to over cook the chicken breasts or you will land up with a piece of old leather.
Steamed chicken with fresh radish salad
What you need: (serves four)
- A large oven roasting bag - or make a parcel out of wax paper
- 4 large free range chicken fillets
- Make a rub of 1 t-spoon of salt, ground black pepper, paprika and dried sweet basil
- About 8 radishes
- 1 medium cucumber
- Handful of seedless green grapes
- A little ground nut oil
- Chili flakes
- A table spoon oyster sauce
- 1 t-spoon honey
- A squeeze of lemon juice
- Boiled new potatoes
How to make:
- Rub the chicken with your homemade rub and place in the bag evenly spread apart
- Tie up bag tightly and place in oven for 30 minutes on 180 degrees heat
- To make your dressing mix the oil, honey, chili flakes according to how hot you like it, oyster sauce and the lemon juice and set aside
- Grate the radishes and cucumber together and leave to stand for a few minutes, then press down to remove excess water
- Add the sliced grapes and give it all a good toss
- To plate up slice the new potatoes and lay as a base, remove the steamed chicken (be careful of the steam!) slice and lay over the potatoes, drizzle some of the juices from the oven bag over the top
- Place your radish salad on the side and drizzle with the chili dressing
YUM!