Roasted Garlic and Rocket Chicken

"September Potluck", the theme for this week at I Heart Cooking Clubs (IHCC). For our potluck theme, we are free to select any recipes from our current and previous featured chefs. 

I was looking for some recipes using rocket leaves, and did not really want to use it in a salad, but with something more than that. Searched thru Donna Hay's website and found this interesting Rocket Dressing! Sounds good and served with Roasted Garlic Chicken, already sounds delicious, as we are garlic lovers and who doesn't love roasted chicken!

My pot of Rocket Leaves (Arugula).

This Rocket Dressing is really nice. The leaves are fragrant, and peppery delicious. It is so simple and easy to make. The Rocket leaves are finely chopped and mix with some olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. 

Donna Hay has used one whole butterflied chicken, for roasting. I have used 3 whole chicken legs as it is only for the three of us. Three heads of garlic cloves are separated and placed under the chicken during the first hour of roasting. And the garlic cloves are pushed to the sides of the baking tray during the last 30 minutes of roasting. I actually placed the chicken legs, skin side down during the first 40 minutes, and turn them over with skin side up, for the rest of the roasting time, till they are brown and crispy. The only seasoning are some olive oil, salt and black pepper to taste. 

This is such a simple, easy and delicious meal. Everyone love the garlic! There's not a single clove of garlic left! Some of the garlic are really soft and creamy, while some which are at the corners of the tray, gets all crispy and crunchy! The chicken is really tasty with just the simple seasoning of olive oil, salt and black pepper, and the skin is deliciously crispy. Served with Rocket Dressing, delicious! Donna Hay does it again, with a simple, easy, fuss-free yet delicious dish. This Rocket Dressing would be great if spread on slices of baguette and grill till crisp. 

Roasted Garlic and Rocket Chicken
(adapted from donnahay.com)
3 small heads garlic, cloves separated
2 tablespoons olive oil
sea salt and cracked black pepper
1 x 1.6kg whole chicken, butterflied (I use 3 whole chicken legs)

rocket dressing :
1 cup baby rocket (arugula) leaves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the garlic on a baking tray, drizzle with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on top of the garlic and rub with the remaining oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 1 hour. Move the garlic from under the chicken to the edge of the tray and roast for a further 30 minutes, or until the chicken is golden and the garlic is tender. While the chicken is cooking, make the rocket dressing. Place the rocket, lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix to combine. Serve the chicken with the roasted garlic and rocket dressing. Serves 4.

This post is linked to I Heart Cooking Clubs (IHCC), the theme for this week, September Potluck.