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Wiesnhendl
Roast half chicken
Wiesnhendl: Munich Oktoberfest roast half chicken with parsley butter
Under the tents at Munich's Oktoberfest, the Wiesn, hundreds of thousands of half chickens turn on spits every September and October, rubbed with paprika, salt and parsley butter until the skin is crackling and deep gold. They are eaten with fingers, a pretzel and a lot of napkins. At home a hot oven does a fine job. A common mistake is roasting a wet bird, which steams instead of crisping. Chef's tip: dry the chicken well, push some of the parsley butter under the skin and baste once more in the last 10 minutes for the classic shine.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 3 ⅛ lb whole chickencut in half lengthways
- 1 ¾ oz buttersoft
- 3 tbsp flat-leaf parsleyfinely chopped
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp mild curry powder
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 425°F (400°F fan). Pat 3 ⅛ lb whole chicken completely dry with kitchen paper, inside and out.
5 minStep 2: Beat 1 ¾ oz butter with 3 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, 2 tsp sweet paprika, 1 ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper and ½ tsp mild curry powder. Loosen the skin over the breasts and push a third of the butter underneath, then rub the rest over the skin.
5 minStep 3: Lay the halves skin side up on a rack over a roasting tin and roast for 50–55 minutes, basting with the pan juices twice, until the skin is crisp and deep golden.
55 minStep 4: Check the thickest part of the thigh: it must reach 165°F and the juices must run clear. Rest for 5 minutes and serve with pretzels or potato salad.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 620 kcal
- Protein
- 52 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fat
- 45 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does wiesnhendl take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of flat-leaf parsley?
- Curly parsley or coriander, same amount.
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