How To Cook Simple Brined Chicken

  • Cook time
  • Difficulty easy
  • Serves 4
cooked simple brined chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 Free range chicken
  • 2 litres water
  • 200 g fine sea salt
  • 100g golden caster sugar
  • 8 x black peppercorns
  • 1 x bay leaf
  • 1 x piece rosemary
  • Peel of ½ lemon
  • Melted butter to rub on chicken

This simple bring makes enough for one chicken, and locks in juices enhancing the natural flavour of our free-range chicken.

METHOD FOR THE BRINE

  1. Bring 1 litre of water to a boil with the salt and sugar.
  2. Add herbs, spices and peel, then remove from heat.
  3. Add a final 1 litre of cold water and chill.
  4. Immerse chicken in the chilled solution for 6 to 12 hours.
  5. Remove from brine and quickly rinse in cold water then air dry before roasting.

TO ROAST

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C fan assisted or 200°C without a fan (gas 6).
  2. Massage the chicken with a little melted butter or oil.
  3. Roast for 1 hour 15 minutes or until the juices run clear with a minimum core temperature of 70°C before resting.

TO BBQ

  1. Fire up the BBQ, when the coals are white-hot cover with the lid and set air vents to 200°C.
  2. Massage the chicken with a little melted butter or oil .
  3. Cook for 1 hour 30 minutes or until the juices run clear with minimum core temperature of 70°C before resting adding wood chips in the first 30 minutes cooking to enrich flavour.

TO SERVE

  • Serve with French fries, selection of salads and relish.