Apricot Roast Chicken with Vegetables

(8)
Apricot Roast Chicken with Vegetables
Servings:
4

An apricot glaze sweetens roast chicken and winter vegetables.

Ingredients

  • 2 small carrots, peeled, cut on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces

  • 2 small beets, each cut into 6 wedges

  • ½ small sweet dumpling squash, or acorn squash, cut into 8 wedges

  • 1 medium parsnip, peeled, cut on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces

  • 1 large fennel bulb, cut into 8 wedges, tops reserved

  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

  • ¼ cup apricot jam, mixed with 2 tablespoons warm water

  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, branches reserved for stuffing

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 whole chicken breasts, bone in, skin on (2 ½ pounds total)

  • ½ lemon, cut lengthwise into 4 wedges

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, toss vegetables with 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons apricot-jam mixture, and thyme leaves; season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange in a 9-by-13-inch glass baking pan; roast for 10 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat remaining teaspoon oil over medium-high heat; season chicken, and brown, 4 minutes. Remove from heat; fill cavities between breast halves with lemon, thyme branches, and fennel tops.

  3. Place chicken, skin side up, in a roasting pan, with vegetables around it; roast 15 minutes. Brush chicken with remaining jam; add 6 tablespoons water to pan. Roast until vegetables are tender and chicken is well browned, about 20 minutes. Discard lemon, thyme, and fennel. Bone each breast half with a sharp knife: Cut along breastbone, scraping rib cage with knife; remove meat with your fingers. Arange meat and vegetables on a serving dish. Pour pan juices over, and serve.

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