Butterflied roast chicken and braised leeks

SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES

1.5kg sebago potatoes, cut into large pieces

¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 100g butter, softened

2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind 2 x 1.8kg whole chickens

4 small leeks (1kg), trimmed

2 cloves garlic, bruised

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1 cup (250ml) chicken stock

GREMOLATA DRESSING

1 cup loosely packed flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

1 small clove garlic, chopped finely 2 tablespoons finely chopped cornichons

⅓ cup (80ml) olive oil 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). 2 Place potatoes in a saucepan of salted cold water over high heat; bring to the boil. Boil, covered, for 10 minutes or until just tender. Drain in a colander; toss lightly to rough the edges. Toss potatoes in a large shallow baking dish with 2 tablespoons of the oil; season well. Roast for 20 minutes.

3 Combine butter, parsley, thyme leaves and rind in a bowl; season.

4 To butterfly chickens, cut along either side of backbones with kitchen scissors; discard bones. Open chickens out; press breast to flatten. Tuck wing tips under body. Loosen skin of chickens over the breasts. Push butter mixture between skin and breast and over drumsticks and thighs. Place chickens on a large oven tray (or two small oven trays). Roast chickens on separate shelf with potatoes for a further 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are golden brown. Reserve one chicken and 2 cups (280g) coarsely chopped potatoes for Meal Two; cover, refrigerate.

5 Meanwhile, place leeks in a small baking dish with garlic, thyme and remaining oil; season. Drizzle with stock; cover tray with foil. Roast for 30 minutes. Remove foil; roast for 10 minutes more or until golden and tender. Reserve one leek for Meal Two; transfer to a plate, cover, refrigerate. Halve the remaining leeks lengthways.

6 GREMOLATA DRESSING Meanwhile, combine ingredients in a bowl; season.

7 Serve chicken with potatoes, leeks and Gremolata Dressing. Not suitable to freeze or microwave.