| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 1 hour 30 mins – 2 hours | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 420 | 26g | 6g | 5g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 2g | 1g | 33g | 0.6g |
Let me tell you about one of my absolute favorite dishes, Lemon-caper roasted chicken. There’s just something about this dish that values tradition while also infusing it with a refreshing, citrus-y twist. It’s more than a recipe for me — it’s a bite-size piece of my history, with every ingredient linking back to the comforting aromas that filled my grandma’s kitchen when I was a child.
A Homage to My Roots
Being raised in New Jersey doesn’t necessarily mean that your culinary tastes are limited. From a young age, my taste buds were trained to cherish the hearty, heart-warming flavors of Italian-American cuisine. This recipe, with its star ingredients of chicken, lemons, and capers, brings back to life those cherished family gatherings around the dinner table, where good food and great conversation went hand in hand.
A Dish That Loves Your Body
Beyond being a trip down memory lane, the Lemon-caper roasted chicken is also a fiber-rich, antioxidant-filled wonder. The zesty, tangy lemons not only pack a Vitamin C punch but also add an almost electric vibrancy to the dish. Similarly, capers, these tiny flavor bombs, not only punch well above their weight class in terms of taste but are also packed with vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin K and calcium (Healthline).
Perfect Pairings
When served hot and fresh, the Lemon-caper roasted chicken often becomes the talk of the dinner table. But what about its companions?
I love pairing this dish with a robust, simple side of roasted vegetables, like carrots, potatoes, or brussels sprouts. The natural sweetness that comes out of these vegetables when roasted is the perfect antidote to the tangy, slightly briny flavor profile of the chicken.
And if you’re a fan of my grandma’s Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, you’ll find that this chicken recipe pairs beautifully with it, creating a symphony of flavors that are hard to forget.
To me, this literal fusion of Italian-American tastes represents not only my family traditions but also my taste evolution. Inspiration can come from anywhere, and in this case, it came from my hearty New Jersey upbringing. Here’s to good food and to the Lemon-caper roasted chicken, a dish that continues to bring joy and flavor to our tables.
What You’ll Need
- 1 whole chicken (4 to 5 lbs)
- 2 lemons
- 1/4 cup capers
- 1 large onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1/2 cup of white wine
- 2 tablespoons of fresh rosemary
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Method
Step One
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius). While the oven is heating, take the whole chicken and pat it dry. Season the chicken with salt and pepper according to your taste.
Step Two
Cut the lemons into halves. Squeeze the juice of one lemon all over the chicken, ensuring it is well-coated. Leave the squeezed lemon halves inside the cavity of the chicken. Cut the other lemon into thin slices and set aside for later use.
Step Three
Peel and cut the onion into quarters. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Combine the minced garlic, quartered onion, and olive oil in a bowl and mix them well.
Step Four
Stuff the chicken’s cavity with the garlic-onion mixture. Ensure to reserve some for later use. Add the capers to the cavity and sprinkle the fresh rosemary over the chicken.
Step Five
Place the chicken in a roasting pan. Scatter the reserved onion-garlic mixture, caper, and lemon slices around the chicken. Drizzle the white wine over the chicken and around the roasting pan.
Step Six
Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for about 1.5 to 2 hours or until the chicken is golden brown and fully cooked. The chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh signifies 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
Step Seven
Once the chicken is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to settle back into the meat, ensuring the chicken is moist and flavorful.
Step Eight
Carve the chicken, serve it with the roasted lemons, onions, and capers from the roasting pan, and enjoy your flavorful Lemon-Caper Roasted Chicken!
