Indian Style Whole Masala Roast Chicken

This Indian Style Whole Masala Roast Chicken is the Indian version of the Roast Chicken bursting with flavors from lots of masalas! It makes for the perfect main dish when you're preparing a large spread and the ingredients that go into making it are sitting right there on your shelf! Enjoy a juicy, spicy and buttery feast!

That title's quite a mouthful isn't it? Indian-Style Whole Masala Roast Chicken. Who even says that stuff?! Honestly, I couldn't think of what else to call it. Because it's an Indian version of the Roast Chicken, with lots of masala and is roasted whole. And needless to say, it's delicious. It's been made so many times now, that it's brother-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, husband and friends approved!

So you can basically dive right in, get that whole chicken and try it today, or for Christmas if you plan to celebrate with a large spread!

This may look fancy and difficult, but I promise you won't have to go searching for ingredients because they are sitting right there on your shelf. Neither will you have to worry too much about how that chicken is going to cook because if you follow the instructions, it is going to be JUICY and SPICY and will make you wonder how often you can get away with making it.

While this recipe is simple, here are a few things to keep in mind so that you get a true winner:

• Get good quality chicken, and make sure to keep the skin on. While roasting a chicken whole, the skin ensures that the chicken remains juicy and doesn't dry out.
• Ingredients such as ginger and garlic should be freshly prepared so that you get the best flavor.
• Know your oven because oven temperatures vary a little bit. So you may need to adjust the time slightly to make sure the chicken cooks just right.
• This recipe requires a fair amount of butter and please don't skimp on it. Butter is always better.
• Make sure the chicken fits snugly in your roasting pan, while leaving space for the potatoes, garlic, lime slices and onions. Get a good baking pan or casserole. The Fujihoro casserole that I use in this recipe is multi-purpose and fantastic because it can go from stove to oven and can handle high temperatures. I use it for everything from curries to bakes to roasts.
• Finally, DO NOT cut into the chicken immediately. Cover and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. Trust me, the wait is worth it.

Gather the friends around, ask them to bring gifts (because you are feeding them deliciousness) and make some noise. Try this with my Christmas favorites:

Make pitchers of Cranberry Ginger Holiday Cocktail (Helps when you want to make noise)

Start with this beautiful Greens, Persimmon and Ricotta Salad

A side of the Creamiest Parsley Baby Potatoes

Another side of Honey Roasted Ginger Carrots, because we love our veggies!

Some Tandoori Cauliflower for your main dish, if you are vegetarian (Or use the marinade I've used for the Chicken on the Gobhi)

And end the madness with these Passion Fruit Cheesecake Jars, because nobody can choose between desserts

Just when the party's rounding up, surprise your guests and send them away with these gorgeous Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Indian Style Whole Masala Roast Chicken

This Indian Style Whole Masala Roast Chicken is a spicy, juicy roast chicken recipe that makes for a great main dish at holiday tables!

4.88 from 8 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Gluten Free

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Servings: 6 Portions

Calories: 582kcal

Author: Richa

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 Whole Chicken skin-on (See Note 1)
• ▢ 2 ½ tablespoons Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons Ginger Paste
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Garlic Paste
• ▢ ½ tablespoon Pepper Powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Jeera Powder Cumin
• ▢ 2 tablespoons Honey
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons Vinegar
• ▢ 50 g Butter Melted
• ▢ Salt to taste
• ▢ 3 - 4 Potatoes quartered
• ▢ 3 Onions quartered
• ▢ 3 Pods Garlic whole, halved
• ▢ 1 Lemon sliced

Instructions

• Wash the chicken and pat dry.
• Mix together chili powder, ginger, garlic paste, pepper, jeera, honey, vinegar, butter and salt into a smooth paste.
• Apply the chili paste all over the chicken, into the crevices and under the skin wherever there are gaps. If you have extra marinade remaining, you can use it to brush the chicken while it cooks.
• Cover and marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours or overnight. I highly recommend marinating it overnight in the refrigerator.
• If you leave it in the fridge, remove it 45 minutes before cooking to let it come to room temperature.
• Use an oven proof baking dish and add potatoes, onions, garlic and lemon slices to the bottom. Tie the chicken legs together with a kitchen string (as shown in the picture) and transfer it on top of the veggies.
• Bake in a pre-heated oven at 220 degrees celsius for 90 minutes or 1 ½ hours. Keep brushing the chicken with the fats and gravy from the pan every 30 minutes or so. Give it one final brush in the last 5 minutes.
• Once cooked, cover with aluminium foil and let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
• Serve with all the veggies at the bottom of the pan. Don't forget to squeeze out the garlic and lemon on top of the chicken for an extra kick!

Notes

1. The chicken I used was approximately 1.2 kgs. This took 90 minutes at 220C. The time may vary depending on your oven's capacity and the size of the chicken. 
2. Use chicken with skin on as the skin gives it that crispy roast texture. 
3. Remember to marinade the chicken well. Apply the chilli paste in between the skin and meat. These pockets can hold ample amounts of marinade and help get the flavour all the way into the meat. 
4. Knowing when the chicken is cooked: The internal temperature of cooked chicken should read 165F/73C. The most handy way to tell would be using a meat thermometer. If you do not own one, you can cut and check the juices. If the meat is white in colour and the juices run clear that means the chicken is cooked. The meat or the juices should not have a red/pinkish hue. 
5. Getting rid of juices Tip 1: A trick to getting rid of the juices if you absolutely prefer it that way is to remove the chicken once its cooked and place the sheet pan with veggies back into the oven on the top rack. Turn the broiler or the top element on and let the veggies broil for 3-4 minutes. This will get them nice and crispy and evaporate all the juices in the sheet pan.
6. Getting rid of juices Tip 2: Another way to get rid of the juices is to sear the thighs on both sides in a pan first before placing them in the oven. This can help lock in the juices so that you have less liquid when it comes out of the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 582kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 1493mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1339IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 5mg

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