Correze, where this rustic-yet-elegant dish comes from, is a small farming district in Southwest France. They hit the map after being assigned one of the 83 original departments after the French Revolution in 1790. As in many of France’s rural areas, the population shrunk in the 20th century and has stayed low since. Like many countries in the last half century, automation, money, and an exciting social life style has led to a constant migration of young people from rural areas to cities This dish showcases the district, making clear the area’s important culinary contribution.

Poularde Farcie en Chaponnade Comme en Corrèze – Roast Chicken Stuffed with Garlic Croutons

The special quality of this dish is enhanced by the fatty pancetta and duck fat (or butter), which when melted is used to baste the chicken and create a wonderfully flavorful and crispy skin.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: French, Southwest France

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 55

Total Time: 1 15

Servings:

Author: My Hungry Traveler

Equipment

String
Large casserole or pot with covers
Medium saucepan
Small bowl

Ingredients

5+ lb Whole chicken, preferably Kosher
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp French walnut oil Vegetable oil acceptable substitute
¼ tsp dried thyme
6 slices Country bread, cut ½ inch thick, crusts trimmed
3 ¼-inch Slices of fatty pancetta
2 tbsp Fat from chicken, rendered, or 2½ tbsp unsalted butter
1 medium Onion, chopped
1 large Carrot, chopped
½ Leek, white and light green part only, thinly sliced and washed well

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Adjust rack to lower part of oven. Preheat oven to 425° (220C). Remove fat from chicken and put in a medium saucepan over low heat to until fat renders out. Wipe out cavity with a paper towel and season chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Remove skin flap from neck and chop into 1-inch pieces.
In a small bowl, combine oil, garlic, ¼ tsp salt and pepper, and thyme. Mix and then brush each bread slice with mix. Rip each slice into 3 and stuff into chicken cavity. Truss the chicken loosely with string, pat dry then cover the breast with a the pancetta slices with string.
Put 2 tbsp rendered chicken fat or, if prefer, 2½ tbsp of unsalted butter in the saucepan over low heat. Add onion, carrot, and leek. Cover and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in chopped neck bones and cook a minute more.
Roll the trussed chicken in the vegetable mix. Place chicken in casserole, back-side up. Toss some of the vegetables over the top. Transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
Lower oven to 350° (177°C), turn chicken on its side, cover and roast for another 20 minutes. Turn it to its other side, and roast another 20 minutes. Turn chicken breast side up and remove pancetta. Put back in oven, this time uncovered, for another 20 minutes until golden brown. Baste occasionally with pan juices. When done, juices will run clear when thickest part of thigh pierced or a meat thermometer reads 160°.
Remove chicken to a cutting board and tent loosely with tin foil. Strain the cooking juices into a bowl, pressing down on the vegetables and neck bones to extract all their flavor. Deglaze the pot with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil, scraping up the brown bits on bottom and sides of the pan. Separate as much of the brown juice from the fat in the bowl and pour the juice into the pot. Boil down to a little over 1 cup. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
Untie the chicken and spoon the stuffing onto a serving dish. Saturate the stuffing with half the sauce. Carve the chicken and arrange over stuffing. Serve with pomme frites or mashed potatoes and a green vegetable with remaining sauce on the side.