Five Spice Roasted Crispy Chicken Recipe

Cooking Directions

• STEP 1.To make the five spice mix, in a grinder jar add ⅔ tsp fennel seeds, 1 tsp sichuan peppercorn, 1 star anise, 2 pieces cinnamon stick, 1 black cardamom and 1 piece orange peel. Blend well together till almost fine powder. There should be no big pieces. Transfer to a bowl and keep aside.
• STEP 2.To make the wet aromatic mixture, in the grinder jar add ¼ cup chopped red onion, 3 cloves garlic, 3 slices ginger. Blend together well.
• STEP 3.Add the wet spice mix to the bowl with the five spice dry spice mix. Add 2 ½ tsp salt, 2 tsp sugar, ½ tsp MSG (optional) and1 tsp oil. Mix all the ingredients well together. This quantity is for 1. 2 kg of chicken.
• STEP 4.Take a whole chicken of ½ kg. Cut off the wings. Place the chicken breast side down and use a scissors to remove the backbone. With a sharp knife make a cut on each side of the soft cartilage that is above the breastbone. Break it open. Lay the chicken flat. This allows the chicken to bake evenly.
• STEP 5.Next apply the spice mix all over the chicken, on the inside as well as all over the skin.
• STEP 6.Place the chicken in a sealable bag. Remove all the air from the bag by immersing it in a bowl of water. Sealt it shut.
• STEP 7.Refrigerate overnight.
• STEP 8.The next day take the chicken out of the bag and arrange it on a baking rack with the skin side up.
• STEP 9.Boil water in a pan and pour the hot water all over the chicken skin. It will wash off all the marinade. This helps to make the skin crispy.
• STEP 10. Line a baking tray or pan with tin foil.
• STEP 11. Arrange 1 cm thick slices of potato as a bottom layer on the foil. Do not cut the potato too thick.
• STEP 12. Then place the chicken, skin side up, on top of the potato.
• STEP 13. Dab the chicken skin dry with a kitchen paper towel.
• STEP 14. Brush a layer of oil all over the chicken skin. Sprinkle ¼ tsp salt over the chicken.
• STEP 15.Using a sieve, dust a thin even layer of four over the chicken skin. Use only 1 tbsp of flour in total.
• STEP 16.Place the chicken tray in the middle shelf of a preheated oven. Bake for 50 minutes at 360 degrees fahrenheit.
• STEP 17. Then switch the heat to the top element and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes to make the skin crispy.
• STEP 18. Take the tray out of the oven. Carve the chicken .
• STEP 19. Serve the chicken and potato hot with rice.

Special Comments

• STEP 1.Fresh orange peel can be used as well.