Poussin (young chicken) are a bit of a luxury. You will find them at a good butchery. One per person may look a huge amount, but is actually very do-able.
For a smaller appetite, cut in half when they are cooked through, so you don't miss out on the stuffing.The bones will make wonderful stock for a heart-warming soup so save them for the stock pot.
Ingredients
4
Poussin (Main)
1 Tbsp
Olive oil
1
Onion, chopped
2 cloves
Garlic, crushed
1 cup
Pumpkin, cubed
½ cup
Chicken stock
1 cup
Quinoa, cooked
½ cup
Pistachio nuts
1 cup
Rocket, chopped
1
Lemon, freshly zested juiced
2 Tbsp
Oil
1 cup
White wine
Directions
Preheat oven to 180C.
Wash poussin inside and out and dry with paper towel.
Heat oil in a frying pan to medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 3 or 4 minutes until softened. Add pumpkin and chicken stock. Continue to cook until the pumpkin is just cooked through, the stock absorbed. Season with salt and pepper.
Add quinoa, nuts, rocket and lemon zest and juice to the pumpkin and combine well.
Fill cavities of the poussin with stuffing and tie the legs together with string. Rub the bird with olive oil and then place in a roasting dish. Pour in the wine, then pop into the oven for 45-50 minutes until tender and juicy.
When cooked, rest for 10 minutes before serving. The juices from the pan will make delicious gravy. Serve with bean puree.
In a kitchen processor place a 420g tin of butter beans, 1 garlic clove, juice of ½ lemon, 2 Tbsp oil, 1 tsp fresh rosemary, salt and pepper. Blitz until creamy and delicious. Add a little water if needed.
