4 bulb garlic chicken

Babiche Martens

When you are taking food to contribute to a shared meal, you don’t want to spend your time in the kitchen when you have arrived at the venue, so a precooked dish is best for the occasion. Everybody loves a good roast chicken. Adding pesto and loads of garlic turns it into a real tasty bird. If you are cooking for a large crowd, make two. The chicken is also delicious in a fresh bread sandwich the following day. Don’t forget to squash the garlic from the bulbs to add to the flavour. Delicious!

Ingredients

1 large	Whole chicken, washed and patted dry (Main)
1	Lemon, halved
½ cup	Basil pesto
4	Garlic bulbs (Main)
1 cup	White wine

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180C. With baking paper, line a baking dish that will fit the chicken snugly.
2. Place lemon halves into chicken cavity and tie legs together.
3. Smother top with pesto. Cut two of the whole bulbs in half and place around chicken, and scatter peeled cloves from the other two bulbs around and inside the bird. Season with salt and pepper. Pour wine around chicken, cover and roast for 1 hour. Remove cover.
4. Continue to cook for a further 45 minutes or until cooked through, ensuring it doesn't brown too much. Save the juice as it will make a delicious gravy.

More of Angela's pot luck dishes

• Beef burgundy
• Lamb shank ragout