INGREDIENTS

• 2kg Lowan Park Produce whole chicken

• 1 lemon, halved

• 6 thyme sprigs

• 4 marjoram sprigs

• 4 sage sprigs

• 4 cloves garlic, unpeeled, bruised

• 20g butter, softened

How long does it take to roast a 2kg chicken?

• Roasting a chicken will take approximately 20 minutes for every 500g of weight at 200 degrees Celsius (180 degrees Celsius for fan-forced ovens). So it should take a 2kg chicken about 80 minutes (1 hour and 20 minutes) to cook.

When do you add the vegies to a a roasting chook?

• Many people believe a roast just isn't complete without the vegies. To roast vegetables with your chicken, allow chicken to cook for 30-40 minutes then add vegetables to the pan. Try potatoes, baby carrots and shallots.

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (or 180 degrees Celsius fan forced).

2. Using paper towels, pat chicken dry thoroughly.

3. Season cavity generously with salt and pepper then stuff with a 1/2 a lemon, herb sprigs and garlic.

4. With chicken breast-side up, tuck wings under shoulders.

5. Wrap a 1m-long piece of string around legs twice and tie underneath. Pull up along insides of legs, so string runs along underside of breast. Loop over wings and tie tightly at back.

6. Place chicken in a roasting pan. Brush with butter and juice from 1/2 a lemon. Season to taste.

7. Roast for 1 hour 20 minutes, basting with juices and turning every 20 minutes, or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced.

8. Before carving, allow chicken to stand for 15-20 minutes – this gives the juices time to settle.

9. Carve the breast meat in long thin slices, then remove the legs with the thighs and cut in half at the joint.