Roast chicken may be such a frequent meal in your home that you can cook it with your eyes closed. What's special about this dish you may ask? It's all about the gravy! In the lead up to the festive season now is a great time to perfect your Christmas lunch accompaniments, like this delicious gravy, to avoid a Christ'mess' disaster!
Boxes and ingredients are packed in facilities that handles Peanut, Nuts, Sesame, Fish, Crustaceans, Milk, Egg, Mustard, Celery, Soya, Gluten and Sulphites. Due to the war in Ukraine, it has been necessary to substitute sunflower oil with rapeseed oil in some products without a label change. The FSA have advised that allergic reactions to rapeseed oil are rare.
8
Plain Flour
2
Skin-On Chicken Breasts
1
Chicken Stock Powder
15
Honey
1
Broccoli
2
Carrot
450
Potatoes
½
Dried Thyme
300
Water for the Stock
Preheat your oven to 200°C. Chop the potato into 2cm chunks (no need to peel). Trim the carrot, then halve lengthways (no need to peel). Chop into 1cm wide batons. Chop the broccoli into florets (like small trees!). Arrange the potato and carrots on a large baking tray, keeping them separate. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper then roast on the top shelf of your oven, 30-35 mins. Turn halfway through cooking.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a drizzle of oil in a frying pan on medium- high heat, lay in the chicken, skin-side down. Fry until the skin is golden, 4-5 mins. Move to a large oiled baking tray, skin-side up, and sprinkle over the dried thyme (don't wash the pan). Pop the tray on the middle shelf of your oven. Roast for 25-30 mins. IMPORTANT: The chicken is cooked when it is no longer pink in the middle.
Meanwhile, fill and boil your kettle. Put the frying pan back on medium heat and add the flour. Stir the flour into the chicken juices (if the pan is a bit dry just add a little oil). Cook until beginning to turn golden, 2 mins. Stir occasionally to combine well. This is the roux that will thicken your gravy! TIP: Don't panic if it looks lumpy - it will be fine!
Dissolve the stock powder in a measuring jug of boiling water (see ingredients for amount). Bit by bit, stir this stock into the roux, stirring well to make sure there are no lumps. Bring to a simmer and keep stirring (or whisking if you have a whisk!). Cook until thickened to your liking, 3-5 mins, then remove from the heat.
Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with a pinch of salt for the broccoli. Once boiling, add the broccoli. Cook until tender, 5 mins, then drain in a colander.
When ready to serve, rewarm the gravy over a low heat, adding a splash of water if it is too thick. Drizzle the honey over the roasted carrots and turn to coat. Cut the chicken into 2cm thick slices, serve on plates with the mini roasties, veggies and a drizzle of gravy! Enjoy!