Lemon chicken with green olives

This golden lemon chicken recipe is perfect to make on a cold winter day when we are longing for warm and sunny summer days. But it is just as delightful in spring with its refreshing lemon flavour.

4 servings

1 whole organic chicken, about 1,3- 1,5 kg

200 g organic pitted olives

2 medium onions

2 cloves garlic

2 doses saffron powder

1 lemon, peeled and cut into small pieces

Juice of 1 lemon

50 ml plus 2 tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. dried Provençal herbs

400 ml chicken stock

2 handfuls of organic baby spinach leaves

Freshly ground black pepper

Fresh herbs to decorate

In a bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, lemon pieces, Provençal herbs, black pepper, and saffron. Brush the chicken inside and outside with this mixture. Pour the rest of the marinade and lemon pieces inside the chicken. Place the chicken in the fridge for 30 minutes, then marinate in the room temperature for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 190°C roast.

Warm 2 tbsp. olive oil in a heavy saucepan, cocotte, over medium- low heat. Peel and slice the onions, peel and mince the garlic. Add them to the cocotte and sauté for about 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock and the marinated chicken, increase the heat and bring to the boil.

Transfer the cocotte to oven and roast for 1,5 h basting regularly with the cooking liquid.

Towards the end of the roasting add the green olives and spinach to the saucepan. Continue cooking until the olives are heated and the spinach is wilted.

Carve the chicken and serve with rice mix or quinoa. If you are making this for only two persons, the leftovers can be used next day in chicken pilaf or served over pasta.