Recipes

Meal for 4 for under $20: Roast chicken, vegetables and chocolate banana mousse

Jun 24 11:10am

Prep Time	Serves
35 minutes	4

Ingredients

1.4kg fresh chicken
SEASONING
1 lemon
1 1/3 cups seasoned stuffing mix
1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
1/3 cup water
salt and pepper, to taste
BAKED POTATOES
4 medium potatoes
1/2 cup light sour cream
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
CARROTS AND BROCCOLI
4 medium carrots, peeled
1 large head broccoli (500g), trimmed
Salt and pepper, to taste
CHOCOLATE BANANA MOUSSE
150g block dark or milk chocolate
300ml tub thickened cream
1 large banana, sliced

Method

FOR THE CHICKEN:
To make seasoning, finely grate rind from lemon then squeeze juice. Combine rind, juice, stuffing mix, chives and water in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
Cut chicken through breastbone, turn chicken over, flatten with hand or rolling pin. Loosen skin of chicken by sliding hand between skin and flesh of chicken at the neck joint. Push seasoning under skin, work it down to top of legs and across back. Place chicken in a baking dish.
Cook in a moderately hot oven (190C) for about 50 minutes, or until cooked when juices run clear.
Cut chicken in half through backbone. Then cut through each half, at an angle, to remove maryland and chicken breast. Serve with steamed carrots, broccoli and baked potatoes.
FOR THE BAKED POTATOES
Wrap each potato in a sheet of foil. Place on oven rack, along side chicken. Cook in a moderately hot oven (190C) for about 1 hour, or until tender.
To serve, open foil. Cut a deep cross in top of each potato. Squeeze around middle of potatoes to open `crossâ��. Top with combined sour cream and salt and pepper. Sprinkle with chives.
FOR THE CARROTS AND BROCCOLI
Cut carrots diagonally into slices. Bring a pan of water to boil, add carrots. Boil gently for 2 minutes. Add broccoli. Boil for a further 2 minutes, or until tender.
Drain vegetables. Season with a salt and pepper, if preferred.
FOR THE CHOCOLATE BANANA MOUSSE
Using a vegetable peeler, peel side of chocolate to shave about 1 tablespoon from block. Set aside for decoration. Chop remaining chocolate.
Combine chopped chocolate and cream in a medium pan. Stir over low heat until melted and mixture smooth.
Divide banana among four serving glasses. Divide chocolate mixture over top. Refrigerate until set.

By New Idea's Food Director Barbara Northwood

4 Comments Report Abuse

1. laura_giarrusso - Jun 25 09:40pm

In what world would all that cost under 20 dollars, when the chicken alone for just a kilo would be around 13 dollars, and they say almost a kilo and a half. Plus all the other stuff you need to buy would be well above 20 dollars... :S

2. chrisnbray - Jun 26 08:41am

I went straight out and got the ingredients, and cooked it that night, it was so yum, you guys shpulld keep it up with good cheap reciepes like that

3. kandileebabe - Jun 26 03:14pm

Aldi have 2kg chickens for well under $13. I'm sure even Woolies & Coles have uncooked chooks for well under that aswell. Keep up the great work in providing quick, easy and affordable meals. Perhaps you could come up with a weekly menu based on affordable standard ingredients.

4. dan.imhoff - Jun 27 01:27pm

We had this for dinner last night, total cost $18.65 for everything.
By far one of the nicest and easiest meals to prepare. I cooked it for my wife, as a surprise after a long days work. I cant cook fellas so no excuses, do yourselves a favour give it a go. Youll be surprised at your result.