The Humble Hen

Whoever out there is reading this(if anyone) I ask you is there a better, more satisfying smell than the smell of a chicken roasting?! Gets me every time, the smell wafts through the entire house and sets your taste buds wild!

With a large roasting chicken in the fridge and only 2 out of 6 people -3 max- having dinner I was not going to go to the hassle of preparing an entire roast...No Sir. The obvious answer to my chicken dilemma was to, cook the bird and make sandwiches. If I do say so myself I make a mean sandwich!

There's a spice blend mix I've been meaning to use for a while and I finally got my chance :). It's for salmon fillets or chicken breasts but a smothered it over my bird and roasted it in the oven.

Special Spice Mix!

Ingredients-makes enough for 2 large chickens:

-adapted from Domini Kemp.

• 1 Tbsp Ground Coriander
• 1 Tbsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
• 2 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 Tbsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1 Tbsp Flaky Sea Salt
• 1 Tbsp Dried Thyme
• 1 Tbsp Oregano

Method:

1. Combine the coriander, garlic powder, paprika, pepper, salt, thyme and oregano.
2. In a pestle & mortar grind the cumin seeds until half is powdered.
3. Add cumin to the other spices and mix to combine evenly.
4. Store in an airtight container.

*If you do not have one or two of the spices don't fret-though the paprika is necessary! Use rosemary instead of thyme or already ground cumins seeds. It is just a guideline, not written in stone!*

Special Spice Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• Half of the above spice mix.
• 1 Roasting Chicken, bought to room temp.
• Olive Oil
• Whole Grain Bread-(2 slices per person)
• Hummus
• Raita(recipe below)
• Sliced Tomato
• Crispy Lettuce Leaves
• A Bag of Lightly Salted Crisps

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 Degrees Celsius.
2. Place chicken in a roasting dish and rub all over with the olive oil.
3. Rub the entire bird -front, back and a little in the cavity- with your spice mix.
4. Cover with tin foil and roast in your preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours to 1 hr 3/4 hour or until juices run clear.
5. Remove foil for the last half hour to allow the chicken crisp.
6. Remove from oven and allow to come to room temperature before carving and making your sandwiches.
7. Make raita while chicken is cooling.

Raita

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons Natural Yogurt
• 1/4 Cucumber
• 3 Spring Onions
• Salt and Pepper
• Lemon Juice

Method

1. Half the cucumber, de-seed and cut into small cubes.
2. Finely slice the spring onion.
3. Add onion and cucumber to yogurt.
4. Season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Assembling the Sandwich:

1. Lightly toast your sliced bread.
2. Using the hummus as a butter substitute, smear both slices of bread with a decent amount.
3. Lay your slices of carved chicken on the bread followed by sliced tomato, a dollop of raita and some lettuce leaves.
4. Top with remaining slice of bread.
5. Cut into two halves and serve with a handful of crisps.