ROAST CHICKEN WITH WARM BREAD SALAD
Makes: 4 to 6 servings
1 (4 -pound) whole chicken, giblets discarded 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
Pepper 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
4 (1 -inch-thick) slices country-style bread (8 ounces), 3 scallions, sliced thin bottom crust removed, cut into ¾ - to 1 -inch pieces (5 cups) 2 tablespoons dried currants
¼ cup chicken broth 5 ounces (5 cups) baby arugula
1 . Place chicken, breast-side down, on a cutting board. Using kitchen shears, cut through the bones on either side of the backbone; discard backbone. Do not trim off any excess fat or skin. Flip chicken over and press on breastbone to flatten.
2 . Using your fingers, carefully loosen the skin covering the breast and legs. Rub ½ teaspoon salt under the skin of each breast, ½ teaspoon under the skin of each leg and 1 teaspoon salt onto bird’s cavity. Tuck wings behind back and turn legs so drumsticks face inward toward breasts. Place chicken on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet or on a large plate and refrigerate, uncovered, for 2 4 hours.
3 . Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 4 7 5 degrees. Spray a 1 2 -inch skillet with vegetable oil spray. Toss bread with broth and 2 tablespoons oil until pieces are evenly moistened. Arrange the bread in the skillet in a single layer, with majority of crusted pieces near the center, crust-side up.
4 . Pat chicken dry with paper towels and place, skin-side up, on top of bread. Brush 2 teaspoons oil over chicken skin and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Roast chicken until skin is deep golden brown and the thickest part of the breast registers 1 6 0 degrees and thighs register 1 7 5 degrees, 4 5 to 5 0 minutes, rotating the skillet halfway through roasting.
5 . While the chicken roasts, whisk vinegar, mustard, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper together in small bowl. Slowly whisk in remaining ¼ cup oil. Stir in scallions and currants and set aside. Place arugula in a large bowl.
6 . Transfer chicken to a carving board and let rest, uncovered, for 1 5 minutes. Run a thin metal spatula under the bread to loosen it from the bottom of the skillet. (Bread should be a mix of softened, golden brown and crunchy pieces.) Carve chicken and whisk any accumulated juices into the vinaigrette. Add bread and vinaigrette to arugula and toss to evenly coat. Transfer salad to a serving platter and serve with chicken.