THE RELUCTANT GOURMET COOKING COMMUNITY

jfield · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 553 Location: Cary, NC

Had spatchcocked, roasted chicken w/lemon and onion shoved under the skin and roasted white and sweet potatoes (olive oil, s&p, Old Bay). Made some gravy with the pan drippings and about 2 drops of liquid smoke. Yum!

ninjabut · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 836 Location: No CA USDA zone 8

What is spatchcocked chicken???
We're having tri tip steaks on the grill, mushroom risoto and steamed green beans. Finally cool enough to cook!

Reluctant Gourmet · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:33 am Post subject:

Spatchcocked Chicken

"According to the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, a "spatchcock" is simply "a chicken or especially a game-bird split open and grilled after a simple and speedy method of preparation." In other words, lunch. The origin of "spatchcock" seems to be under debate. The folks at Oxford think it's Irish, and a combination of "dispatch" (as in "quick") and "cock," but the Random House Webster's College Dictionary dismisses that theory and ties the word to "spitchcock," a dish made with fried eels. Even if one likes fried eels (which I do not), this isn't very useful because no one seems to know where "spitchcock" came from, either. " - www.word-detective.com

I received an email from jfield and she warned me she would be posting a recipe on her blog for spatchcocked chicken with lemon slices under the breast skin and onion under the thigh skin. Can't wait to read it and then give it a try.
Her blog is at http://onlinepastrychef.wordpress.com and is great.

ninjabut · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 836 Location: No CA USDA zone 8

Hmmm, OK, since no one seems to know exactly what it is, I don't have to worry about it! LOL

jfield · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 553 Location: Cary, NC

All it basically is is roasting a cutting a chicken down the backbone and opening it up like a book. Roasting time is well under an hour, and all the meat cooks evenly. It's a nice technique to use when you want roast chicken but don't want to wait around too long! :)

kell · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 473 Location: NWND

This is hilarious! I first heard the term spatchcocked last weekend on another cooking forum, so I had to research it. I found a ten minute youtube video that shows you how spatchcocking is done. I thought it was a very interesting technique and can't wait to try it out.