We wash the chicken and lemons well under a stream of cold water, ensuring they are clean of impurities. Once the chicken is prepared, we take a whole lemon and carefully place it inside the chicken. This will add a fresh and tangy flavor that we won't be able to resist. We also add basil leaves, which will enhance the flavors and bring an extra freshness to our dish.
In a bowl, we prepare a delicious marinade by mixing quality olive oil, herbs such as oregano, thyme, or rosemary, finely chopped garlic, and a little grated lemon zest – about a quarter teaspoon. This mixture will be the secret to a juicy and flavorful chicken. We mix all the ingredients well until we obtain a smooth paste, then generously coat the chicken with this marinade, ensuring it reaches under the skin to provide an even flavor. After that, we squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the chicken, adding a note of acidity that will balance the final taste.
Next, we prepare our round baking dish or heat-resistant vessel. We grease the inside with a little olive oil to prevent sticking and facilitate later cleaning. We place the chicken in the center of the dish and cover it with aluminum foil, which will allow steam to penetrate and keep the meat juicy. We preheat the oven to a moderate temperature and place the chicken inside, letting it bake for one hour and 20 minutes.
In the last 20 minutes, if we want to add an even more savory taste, we can place slices of bacon on top of the chicken. This ingredient will give a crispy crust, adding a pleasant texture. We remove the foil and let the chicken brown nicely, developing a golden and appetizing crust.
Once the chicken has reached the desired color and its aroma has filled the entire kitchen, we take it out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before carving. It is a lightly flavored roast, perfect to be served alongside steamed potatoes, which will perfectly complement the dish, and garlic sauce, which will add an extra touch of flavor. Enjoy your meal!
In a bowl, we prepare a delicious marinade by mixing quality olive oil, herbs such as oregano, thyme, or rosemary, finely chopped garlic, and a little grated lemon zest – about a quarter teaspoon. This mixture will be the secret to a juicy and flavorful chicken. We mix all the ingredients well until we obtain a smooth paste, then generously coat the chicken with this marinade, ensuring it reaches under the skin to provide an even flavor. After that, we squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the chicken, adding a note of acidity that will balance the final taste.
Next, we prepare our round baking dish or heat-resistant vessel. We grease the inside with a little olive oil to prevent sticking and facilitate later cleaning. We place the chicken in the center of the dish and cover it with aluminum foil, which will allow steam to penetrate and keep the meat juicy. We preheat the oven to a moderate temperature and place the chicken inside, letting it bake for one hour and 20 minutes.
In the last 20 minutes, if we want to add an even more savory taste, we can place slices of bacon on top of the chicken. This ingredient will give a crispy crust, adding a pleasant texture. We remove the foil and let the chicken brown nicely, developing a golden and appetizing crust.
Once the chicken has reached the desired color and its aroma has filled the entire kitchen, we take it out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before carving. It is a lightly flavored roast, perfect to be served alongside steamed potatoes, which will perfectly complement the dish, and garlic sauce, which will add an extra touch of flavor. Enjoy your meal!
Ingredients
a chicken 1-1.4 kg 2 lemons a few basil leaves olive oil aromatic herbs: rosemary, sage, marjoram, or simply mixed herbs in a packet delicate pepper two cloves of garlic preferably if you want a few slices of bacon... they are not in the picture because I thought to add them while the chicken was already in the oven.