Nigerian-Inspired • West African Culinary Heritage

Fried Rice Blend Roast Chicken

Heritage-Spiced Whole Roast Chicken

A succulent whole chicken coated with CaMasi Maison™ Fried Rice Blend and roasted until deeply golden, aromatic and beautifully crisp.

PREPARATION

20 minutes

COOKING

1 hour 25 minutes

TOTAL TIME

1 hour 45 minutes

SERVES

6 servings

FROM THE MAISON PANTRY

Ingredients

1 whole chicken, approximately 4½–5 pounds
3 tablespoons CaMasi Maison™ Fried Rice Blend
2 teaspoons premium sea salt, adjusted to taste
½ teaspoon ground Cameroon pepper, optional
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil
4 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion
½ cup unsalted chicken stock or water

THE MAISON METHOD

Preparation Method

Prepare the chicken: Remove the giblets from the chicken cavity. Pat the chicken thoroughly dry inside and out with paper towels. Do not rinse raw poultry.
Prepare the seasoning rub: Combine the Fried Rice Blend, sea salt, Cameroon pepper, softened butter, cooking oil, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, lemon zest and green onion in a small bowl. Mix until a smooth, fragrant paste forms.
Season beneath the skin: Gently loosen the skin over the breasts and thighs without tearing it. Spread approximately one-third of the seasoning paste beneath the skin, massaging it evenly over the meat.
Season the cavity: Rub a small portion of the seasoning paste inside the chicken cavity so the flavor develops throughout the bird.
Coat the exterior: Rub the remaining seasoning paste evenly over the entire exterior, including the legs, wings and underside. Tuck the wing tips beneath the chicken and tie the legs together loosely with kitchen twine.
Allow the seasoning to settle: For deeper flavor, cover and refrigerate the seasoned chicken for 2–8 hours. When ready to roast, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Prepare the oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Position the chicken breast-side up on a rack set inside a roasting pan. Pour the chicken stock into the bottom of the pan without pouring it over the seasoned skin.
Begin roasting: Roast the chicken at 425°F for 20 minutes to begin crisping and browning the skin.
Complete the roasting: Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and continue roasting for 55–65 minutes. Rotate the pan once for even coloring and add a small amount of water if the pan juices begin to scorch.
Check for doneness: Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and the innermost thigh without touching bone. Continue roasting until both areas reach at least 165°F.
Rest the chicken: Transfer the roasted chicken to a serving plate and rest it uncovered for 15–20 minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute while helping the seasoned skin remain crisp.
Carve and serve: Remove the kitchen twine, carve the chicken and spoon over a small amount of the strained roasting juices, if desired.

A NOTE FROM THE MAISON

Maison Notes

Drying the chicken thoroughly before applying the rub helps the skin roast to a deep, even golden brown.
For the most developed flavor, season the chicken several hours before roasting. Keep it refrigerated during this time and bring it out only 30 minutes before cooking.
The blend is already aromatic, so additional herbs should remain restrained. This keeps the characteristic flavor of CaMasi Maison™ Fried Rice Blend at the center of the dish.
Serve with Nigerian fried rice, jollof rice, roasted potatoes, steamed vegetables or a fresh salad.

PLEASE NOTE

Allergen Information

Contains milk from the butter. Substitute a suitable dairy-free butter if required. Check the Fried Rice Blend and all packaged ingredients for additional allergens. Prepared in a kitchen where other allergens may be present.

FROM THE CAMASI MAISON PANTRY