ROAST CHICKEN WITH GREEN GARLIC, HERBS AND POTATOES

Total time: About 3 hours

Makes: 4 to 6 servings

1 (3- to 4-pound) roasting chicken

Salt and pepper

3 pounds medium yellowfleshed potatoes, such as Yukon Gold (about 8 potatoes)

4 to 6 green garlic stalks, or use a combination of scallion and garlic chives

cup extra-virgin olive oil Handful of thyme, rosemary and sage sprigs

cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley

1. Season chicken inside and out with salt and pepper.

2. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Peel the potatoes, cut them in half, then cut halves into 2 or 3 thick wedges.

Boil potatoes for about 5 minutes, until barely done, then drain and cool.

3. As potatoes cool, peel outer layer of garlic stalks and cut off roots. Slice both tender white and green parts crosswise into thin rings, then sprinkle with salt and roughly chop to resemble “minced.” (You should have about 1 cup of chopped alliums, whether you use green garlic or a combination of scallions and chives.) Transfer chopped garlic to a dish and cover with olive oil.

4. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange potatoes on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Set the seasoned chicken on top of the potatoes. Tip the chicken up and transfer the garlic-oil mixture into the bird’s cavity, then place breast-side down, with potatoes surrounding.

5. Take a generous handful of herb sprigs (stem-on) and stuff into the cavity.

6. Roast, uncovered, for about 1 hour until chicken is nicely browned and thigh juices run clear when probed with a paring knife. Remove chicken, tipping the inside juices onto the potatoes, and keep warm on a plate.

7. Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees. Using a spatula, move the potatoes around the roasting pan, allowing juices to coat potatoes well. Return to oven to brown potatoes. Baste potatoes every 5 minutes for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are golden. Sprinkle with parsley. Carve bird and serve.

Note: After carving, the carcass can be tossed into a saucepan, covered with water and simmered to make a small amount of garlicky broth for future use.