Feta and Harissa Roasted Chicken with Farro, Mint and Goji Berry Salad

. December, 2015
Photography by Aaron McLean.
Feta and Harissa Roasted Chicken with Farro, Mint and Goji Berry Salad

Smooth and tangy feta gets a burst of heat from the harissa and helps keep the breast meat moist and tender during cooking. Serve with the nourishing farro salad for a touch of the Middle East.

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

1 corn-fed free range Rangitikei chicken
100 grams soft feta cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons plain yoghurt
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 teaspoons harissa paste
olive oil
sea salt and ground pepper

To serve 
Farro, Mint and Goji Berry Salad, recipe below


Farro, Mint and Goji Berry Salad
¾ cup farro, rinsed and drained
1 x 400 gram tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
200 grams green beans, cooked
small handful mint leaves, shredded
½ cup thick plain yoghurt
¼ cup goji berries or cranberries

Dressing
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon ground cumin
pinch ground turmeric
2 cloves garlic, crushed
sea salt and ground pepper

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180˚C fan bake. 

Put the feta, yoghurt, parsley and harissa in a bowl and mash together with a fork.

Using your fingers, gently ease the skin away from the flesh of the breast, thighs and drumsticks. Take care not to tear the skin. Place teaspoons of the mixture under the skin, then gently ease the paste down with your fingers,  smoothing the skin over the top.

To cook: Place the chicken skin side up in a roasting dish. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Roast the chicken for about 70 minutes, basting occasionally with the pan juices. The chicken is cooked when the juices from the thigh run clear when pierced with a skewer. Rest the chicken for 10 minutes.

To serve: Transfer the chicken to a board or platter and serve with Farro, Mint and Goji Berry Salad.


Farro, Mint and Goji Berry Salad

Dressing: Whisk all the ingredients in a large bowl and season well. 

Salad: Cook the farro in plenty of boiling water until tender, about 20 minutes. The farro will still have a chewy texture when cooked. Drain then rinse in cold water. Drain well again then combine with the dressing along with the chickpeas, green beans and the mint. 

To serve: Place on a platter and dollop over some of the yoghurt then top with the goji berries.