Roasted Split Chicken With Mustard Crust

Jacques Pepin More Fast Food My Way

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons  chopped garlic
• 2  tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2  tablespoons dry white wine
• 1  tablespoon soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  teaspoon  tabasco  hot pepper sauce
• 1  teaspoon  herbes de provence
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  chicken (about 3 1/2 pounds)

Directions

1. For the crust: Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut alongside the backbone of the chicken to split it open. Spread and press on the chicken with your hands to flatten it. Using a sharp paring knife, cut halfway through both sides of the joints connecting the thighs and drumsticks and cut through the joints of the shoulder under the wings as well. (This will help the heat penetrate these joints and accelerate the cooking process.).
3. Put the chicken skin side down on a cutting board and spread it with about half the mustard mixture. Place the chicken flat in a large skillet, mustard side down. Spread the remaining mustard on the skin side of the chicken. Cook over high heat for about 5 minutes, then place the skillet in the oven and cook the chicken for about 30 minutes. It should be well browned and dark on top.
4. Let the chicken rest in the skillet at room temperature for a few minutes, then cut it into 8 pieces with clean kitchen shears. Defat the cooking juices. If you like, mound some Fluffy Mashed Potatoes on each of four warm dinner plates and place 2 pieces of chicken on each plate. Pour some juice on the mashed potatoes and chicken and serve.