Moroccan-Spiced Roast Chicken

User Reviews

4.4

30 reviews
Good
  • Prep Time

    35 mins

  • Cook Time

    1 hr 35 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr 55 mins

  • Servings

    4 servings

  • Calories

    505 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Moroccan

Moroccan-Spiced Roast Chicken

This Moroccan-spiced roast chicken is seasoned with paprika, cumin, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, and then cooked on a bed of sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and red onions.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • One whole chicken
  • Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/4 to 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 smallish lemon
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil plus more for the baking sheet
  • 2 small orange-fleshed sweet potatoes unpeeled
  • 1 pound cauliflower cut into 1-inch florets
  • 1 red onion cut into 8 wedges
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Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Slick a heavy large rimmed baking sheet--preferably not a roasting pan, but if you do use a roasting pan, make it a big one--with a little oil.
  2. Pull out and discard the fat and giblets from the cavity of the chicken. Pat the chicken very dry with paper towels. Starting at the edge of the main cavity, slide a finger under the skin over each breast half, making a pocket between the skin and meat. Rub a total of 1 tablespoon of salt over the chicken skin and toss a little salt inside the cavity. Sprinkle the chicken generously with black pepper.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, cumin, pepper flakes, and cinnamon. Set aside 2 1/2 teaspoons of the spice mixture for the vegetables. The rest is for the chicken. Finely grate the zest from the lemon, cut the lemon into quarters, and mix the zest into the spices for the chicken. Gradually mix in 2 tablespoons of olive oil to make a paste. Spread a little of the paste inside the cavity, slather some of it under the skin over the chicken breasts, and rub the rest of the paste all over the outside of the chicken. Toss the lemon quarters inside the cavity.
  4. Tie the legs together, if desired. Place the chicken in the center of the baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it and if it browns too quickly cover it loosely with a sheet of foil.
  5. Meanwhile, cut the sweet potatoes in half crosswise, and then quarter each half lengthwise to create wedges. Combine the sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and onion in a bowl. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil and toss to coat. Add the reserved spice mixture, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
  6. After the chicken has been roasted for 30 minutes, remove it from the oven. Tilt the sheet pan and spoon off most of the fat. Return the chicken to the center of the sheet and spoon the vegetables around it. Return the pan to the oven and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh registers 165°F (74°C), about 40 minutes longer, depending on the size of the bird. (Note: the bird will take longer to roast if the legs have been tied together. It will also take longer if you ended up with a behemoth bird that's closer to five pounds than four.) If the skin is getting too dark before the meat is done, reduce the oven temperature to 425°F (218°C).
  7. Arrange the chicken on a platter and let rest for 10 minutes. Carve the chicken and serve with the vegetables.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1portion Calories 505kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 26g (9%) Protein 25g (50%) Fat 35g (54%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Monounsaturated Fat 20g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 81mg (27%) Sodium 155mg (6%) Fiber 8g (32%) Sugar 6g (12%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 505 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1portion
Calories 505kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 26g 9%
Protein 25g 50%
Fat 35g 54%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Monounsaturated Fat 20g 100%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 81mg 27%
Sodium 155mg 6%
Fiber 8g 32%
Sugar 6g 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

4.4

30 reviews
Good

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