'Coke-Can' Roasted Chicken

It is just me, or is Coke Can chicken a boy thing?

Look, I grew up with two older brothers, a sister and three younger brothers, and if you told them you were going to insert a 'half-drunk' Coke into the butt of a chicken and roast it, I think they actually get interested in cooking..! *laugh*


I found out a brilliant way to roast a chicken, in the oven.

Yes, the chicken looks rather ridiculous on its Coke can perch, covered with a herb rub and half-ready to salute you!

But hear me out. While the chicken is dry roasting on the outside, the inside is being bathed with steamy Coke, keeping the chicken meat wonderfully moist. The result is tender, falling of the bone meat, encased in salty, herby, crispy skin.

(the preparation)

I follow a basic method of roasting a chicken. I am using just some olive oil, salt, freshly ground pepper, fresh thyme and rosemary (yes, fresh from my garden..!) on the chicken, which I believe brings out the best in the chicken's flavour.

You can easily experiment with your favourite spice rub, or even use chicken broth instead of a Coke. Just use an empty coke can and half filled with chicken broth.

I do have grill.... but so 'leceh' to start up the fire; therefore I decided to roast the chicken this way in the oven.

Just place it as directed on an open half-filled can of Coke, sitting up, in a roasting pan on the lower rack of your oven. Roast at 350deg F until done (about an hour fifteen to an hour and a half for a 1.5kg chicken) .

You can also use an open can of baked beans (don't forget to remove the paper label wrapper) instead of the Coke. The chicken juices will run into and flavour the baked beans, which you can then use as a side dish for the chicken.

Jacket Potatoes to accompany the Chicken.

Dessert - strawberry with whipped cream.. my daughter's favourite..!
...enjoying her dinner... forget about fork & spoon - use hand!.... burppp...!

COKE-CAN ROASTED CHICKEN

Sharing the recipe:

1 whole Chicken (about 1.5kg)

2 tbspn Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil

1 opened, half-full can of Coke - room temperature

1 tbspn salt

2 tbsp chopped fresh Thyme

2 tbspn chopped fresh Rosemary

1 tbspn freshly grounded Black Pepper

Method:

Heat up oven to 350deg F

Remove neck and gibles from cavity of chicken. Rub the chicken all over with olive oil.

Mix the salt, pepper, thyme in a little bowl, then sprinkle it all over the chicken.

Make sure Coke can is open, and only half-filled (drink the other half...*laugh*..!)

If you want, you can put a sprig of thyme or another herb like rosemary or sage in the Coke can.

Lower the chicken on to the open can, so that the chicken is sitting upright, with the can in its cavity (meaning: stick the coke can into the chicken butt..!). Place the chicken in the oven, using the legs and Coke can as a tripod to support the chicken on the rack to keep it stable.

Close the oven door... and walk away (don't go shoppping pulak..!)

DO NOT even check the chicken for at least an hour.

After an hour passed, keep checking the chicken every 15 mins or so, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 160degF. The total cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken and the internal temperature of your oven. A 1.5kg chicken will usually take around 1 1/2 hours. If you dont have a meat thermometer, a way to tell if the chicken is done is to poke it deeply with a knife (the thigh is a good place to do this), if the juices run clear, not pink, the chicken is done.

Carefully transfer the chicken to a tray or pan.

I say "carefully" because the Coke can, and the coke inside of it, is quite hot.

One way to do this is to slide a metal spatula under the bottom of the Coke can. Use thongs to hold the top of the chicken. Lift the chicken, coke can still inside, and move it to a tray. Let the chicken rest for 10 mins. Carefully lift the chicken off the can. If it get s stuck, lay the chiken onits side, and pull our the can with thongs.

For this dish, I prepared jacket potatoes topped with sour cream and steamed veges, to accompany the chicken...Enjoy...!

Hmmm....Come to think of it... maybe next time I will try with a Kickapoo drink.