Ingredient
- 1 whole chicken (about 4-5 lbs)
- 6 tbsp cultured Nalwaya Foods ghee
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1
- tbsp dried)
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme (or 1 tbsp dried)
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 lemon, halved
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary and thyme (optional, for inside the chicken)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, smoked paprika, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Add the cultured ghee and mix until well combined.
- Gently loosen the skin of the chicken by sliding your fingers under it, especially over the breasts and thighs.
- Rub the ghee mixture generously under the skin, over the entire chicken, and inside the cavity.
- Place half a lemon, onion quarters, and fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs inside the chicken cavity for added flavor.
- Arrange the chopped carrots and any remaining onion around the chicken in a roasting pan.
- Drizzle with a little extra ghee and season with salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken, breast-side up, on top of the vegetables in the roasting pan.
- Roast at 425°F (220°C) for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375°F (190°C) and continue roasting for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) at the thickest part (between the thigh and breast).
- Halfway through the roasting process, baste the chicken with the pan juices (you can melt a little extra cultured ghee and drizzle it over the chicken too).
- Once the chicken is done, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.
- Slice the chicken and serve with the roasted vegetables and any ghee-rich pan drippings.
This recipe was provided by Avi Nalwaya
. After Avi used to ghee to help with his son’s gut issues, he founded Nalwaya Foods to be able to provide a ghee with dairy sourced from regenerative grass fed farms. He’s well connected with sustainable food movement in Ventura County where he’d sold his ghee at local farmers markets, partnered with local business interested in using his ghee in products, and spoken at the National Heirloom Expo held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.