My Big Fat Greek Chicken

My recipe for Greek-style baked whole chicken is a bit labor-intensive, but so delicious.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 5 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• CHICKEN

• 1  fresh whole roasting chicken (5 1/2 - 6 lb.)

• RUB

• 1  halved head of garlic
• 1  tablespoon  tempered unsalted butter
• 1  tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper

• BOUQUET

• 1  halved head of garlic (from rub)
• 1  halved small onion
• 1  halved fresh seedless lemon
• 20  fresh oregano sprigs

• BASTE

• 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1  tablespoon butter
• 1  tablespoon  garlic salt
• 1  tablespoon Greek oregano
• 1  tablespoon  wild thyme honey
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  fresh grated lemon zest
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper

Directions

1. PLACE a 5 1/2 - 6 lb. roasting chicken into a colander placed in sink; REMOVE and discard the innards from the cavity from chicken; RINSE chicken inside and out with chicken in the colander; LEAVE chicken in colander in sink.
2. INSERT a V-shaped rack into a roasting pan to suspend chicken while baking, for even browning; SET aside; PLACE oven rack in the second low position, or to where chicken will be 5 inches below the top of oven; PREHEAT oven to 425°F .
3. GRATE 1 1/2 teaspoons outer fresh lemon zest using a fine shred grate; SQUEEZE enough lemons to yield 1/4 cup; RESERVE 2 squeezed lemon halves; CUT one small onion in half; CUT 1 head of garlic in half crosswise.
4. INTO in a small saucepan add: 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon garlic salt, 1 tablespoon dried Greek oregano, 1 tablespoon wild thyme honey, 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh grated lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper, for the BASTE.
5. TIE one bunch (about 20 sprigs) fresh oregano together tightly on the lower stems using a twist-tie; IMMERSE oregano into the BASTE mixture; BRING mixture in saucepan to gentle boiling for one minute; REDUCE heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes; REMOVE saucepan from heat; LET mixture stand to infuse the fresh oregano essences; STRAIN liquid from oregano sprigs in baste solution, remove sprigs using tongs and reserve.
6. RUB the chicken skin all over with the halved garlic heads for the BOUQUET to season, reserving the garlic sections; LEAVE chicken in the colander; STUFF the cavity of chicken with the fresh garlic head halves, the small onion halves, 2 reserved lemon halves and the reserved fresh oregano sprigs; RUB 1 tablespoon tempered unsalted butter evenly over entire outer surface of chicken; FOLLOW with one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; GENEROUSLY season the inner cavity of chicken with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper; TIE drumsticks together at ends with kitchen string; WRAP drumstick and wing tips with foil; TRANSFER chicken onto the V-rack inserted in roasting pan.
7. SET oven timer to 25 minutes; BAKE chicken uncovered at 425°F until timer sounds; REDUCE oven temperature to 355°F ; SET oven timer for 40 minutes; CONTINUE baking chicken until timer sounds again.
8. REDUCE oven temperature now to 325°F; CAREFULLY slide out oven rack wearing oven mitts; REMOVE foil from drumsticks and wings; MIX the BASTE solution with basting brush; BRUSH chicken evenly with the BASTE solution (don't worry about the chicken underside, as the baste will drip down to season); RETURN chicken into oven and close oven door.
9. REPEAT the BAKE, BASTE, and TIMER procedures every 15 minutes so chicken has been basted 3 times in the remaining 45 minutes (TOTAL BAKING TIME IS EXACTLY 1 HOUR, 50 MINUTES); CUT and remove string from drumsticks.
10. CARVE, serve, and feast!