Chicken al Forno with Salsa Verde

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In his new book Italian, My Way, Jonathan Waxman recommends a mortar for the salsa verde, but a food processor also works well. More Great Chicken Recipes

By
Jonathan Waxman
Chef Jonathan Waxman
Jonathan Waxman

Jonathan Waxman is the chef of Jams and Barbuto in New York City. He's authored three cookbooks — The Barbuto Cookbook, A Great American Cook, and Italian, My Way — and appeared on food TV shows Top Chef Masters, Top Chef, MasterChef, and Recipe for Deception.

Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on September 11, 2015
Chicken Al Forno with Salsa Verde Recipe
Photo: Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners
Active Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 45 mins
Yield:
4
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Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1 lemon, halved

  • One 4-pound chicken

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salsa Verde

  • 1/2 cup chopped basil

  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

  • 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

  • Salt

  • 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • 1/4 cup chopped tarragon

  • 4 oil-packed anchovy fillets, soaked in cold water for 15 minutes and patted dry

  • 1/4 cup snipped chives

  • 1/2 cup chopped arugula

  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1/4 cup salt-packed capers, soaked in cold water for 1 hour and drained

  • 1/4 cup chopped sage

Directions

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  1. Preheat the oven to 450°. Using kitchen scissors, cut out the backbone. Flatten the chicken and pull out the breast bone. Cut the chicken in half through the breast and season with salt and pepper. Set the chicken skin side up in a roasting pan and drizzle with the oil; add the lemon halves to the pan and roast for 40 minutes, basting every 10 minutes, until just cooked through.

  2. Meanwhile, make the salsa verde. In a food processor, pulse the capers with the anchovies and garlic until finely chopped. Add all of the remaining ingredients and pulse to combine. Season with salt. Serve the chicken with the salsa verde and the roasted lemon.

Suggested Pairing

Lean, tangy Austrian Pinot Noir.

Originally appeared: July 2011

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