Clay Pot Chicken

For years, when we lived in Belgium, I would taste this wonderful chicken that was roasted and found it was made in a clay pot.  I had never heard of such a thing.  Well my wonderful friend, Cecile, was kind enough to purchase a Romertopf clay pot for my birthday one year and I have been using it ever since.  I love it!  Clay pot chicken is very, very moist, the skin is crispy and it is so very easy to make.  I like making it in the spring and fall because it heats the house up a bit and smells so very good while in use.  I thought I would share with you a bit about clay pot cooking...chickens anyway...today.  I hope you try it yourself very soon!

First you start out by soaking your pot.  As you can tell, mine is well used.  The first time that you use your clay pot, you need to soak it for two hours.  The clay absorbs just enough water through the soaking so when the food cooks inside, it doesn't take away from its moisture.  Since I have used mine so many times, I soak it only an hour before use now.

Next you dress your meat, I used chicken this time.  I used a few sprigs of rosemary, some salt and pepper.  I wanted to keep it simple this time.  Sometimes I add potatoes in before the chicken and they cook up with a wonderful flavor.  I also use a can of cream of chicken and a can of cream of celery at times, it makes a wonderful gravy for spaetzle.

Next you put the lid on your clay pot (yes, mine looks like a chicken), move your oven rack down a notch so that you can fit in the entire pot without issues and you start your oven to 400 degrees.  You never want to preheat your oven when you are using a pot.  It soaks too much of the moisture out of the food that you are cooking and it isn't good for the pot either.

Lastly, you take your chicken out of the oven after about 1 and 3/4 hours and you have a beautiful, moist bird.  As you can see, the pot cooks it to a wonderfully golden brown.  The meat will almost fall off of the bone.  There are many cook books about clay pot cooking.  Many civilizations have used it for many years.  I hope you try it soon, you will enjoy it!

*hugz n blessings*

Elizabeth