All-in-one roast chicken with aioli
Prep time: 10 mins Total time: 
All-in-one roast chicken with aioli
Prep time: 10 mins Total time: 
Alison Yetman
After running her own successful restaurant for 20 years, Alison Yetman then helped establish Wiveton Hall Café. This much-loved lunch spot has been described as 'one of the best beach eateries in Britain' and is a firm favourite of fellow Norfolk chef, Delia Smith.
Alison Yetman
After running her own successful restaurant for 20 years, Alison Yetman then helped establish Wiveton Hall Café. This much-loved lunch spot has been described as 'one of the best beach eateries in Britain' and is a firm favourite of fellow Norfolk chef, Delia Smith.
Ingredients
- 12 shallots, peeled
- 500g small waxy potatoes, cut in half lengthways
- 2 small fennel bulbs, trimmed and cut into wedges
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 5 fat garlic cloves
- 4 sprigs of rosemary or a small bunch of sage or thyme, or use a mixture of these
- 1 x 1.5kg chicken
- sea salt
For the aïoli
- 75ml olive oil
- 75ml sunflower oil
- 1 large free-range egg yolk
- 1 small garlic clove, crushed
- a squeeze of lemon juice
Step by step
Make the aïoli the day before; chill.
-
Preheat the oven to 220°C, fan 200°C, gas 7. Put the vegetables in a roasting tin, sprinkle over 3 tablespoons of olive oil and season generously, turning the vegetables so they get an even coating. Tuck in 3 garlic cloves and most of the herbs (save a couple of sprigs to go inside the bird).
-
Rub the remaining tablespoon of oil all over the chicken, then sprinkle 2 teaspoons of sea salt evenly over the bird with a few grinds of black pepper. Pop the remaining garlic and the reserved herb sprigs into the cavity. Roast the chicken, breast-side down, surrounded by the veg, for 30 minutes.
-
Remove the tin from the oven and turn the chicken on to its back. Baste the bird with the juices (this will help make the skin crisp) and turn over all the vegetables, too. Return to the oven for about 30 minutes, until the juices run clear from the thickest part when pierced with a knife and the veg is tender.
TipTurn the chicken while roasting to keep the breast meat as moist as possible.
-
While the chicken’s roasting, make the aïoli. Mix the oils in a jug. Put the egg yolk in a large bowl with the garlic. Whisk the egg, using an electric hand whisk, and add the oils a drop at a time until your mixture starts to thicken, then add them slightly faster, but still in a thin stream. Don’t rush or the mixture will curdle. Season and add a squeeze of lemon juice to taste. Cover and chill until needed.
-
Transfer the chicken to a board and leave it to rest for 10 minutes. Tip the juices from the roasting tin into a small pan and keep the vegetables warm. Skim any excess fat from the pan juice and discard; bring the juices to the boil and add any more juices that have accumulated while the chicken rests.
-
To serve, carve the chicken. Season the juices and drizzle over the carved meat. Serve with the roasted vegetables and the aïoli on the side.
