Baked chicken is loved in every family. Crisp and fragrant, tender meat - this is exactly what we want to get. Today you can buy grilled chicken in every supermarket, but can it compare with your own creation? Most likely no. In addition, the cost of purchased chickens will be several times higher. Therefore, every housewife wants to find a win-win version of the recipe, which would every time surprise her guests with juicy meat. Baking chicken on salt in the oven is the best way to make your dream a reality.
The main problems of the hostesses
- Excess or lack of spices. Both options are bad. Chicken meat has a peculiar delicate taste, and excess salt or pepper will simply kill it. But even when it is small, guests may not like the excessive sweetness of the chicken. And the most difficult thing is to control the amount of spices if the dish is not cooked in a pan, but in the oven. Chicken salt is an exception to the rule. The fillet will take exactly as much salt as needed for optimal taste.
- In some places, the carcass burns or dries. This is also a common problem. It can be solved with a sleeve in which the heat is distributed evenly. But if it was not at hand, then a salt pillow will help.
- Liquid and fat are leaked from the carcass, which prevents the formation of a golden crust. A thick layer of salt also solves this problem.
From this we can conclude that the chicken on the salt in the oven is prepared very simply, but it turns out delicious. So we take the recipe for service and get down to business.
Preparation Tips
Why do we actually need a salt pillow? It allows you to accumulate heat and evenly distribute it. That is, the carcass will bake faster and get a golden brown. But for this you need to pour a rather thick layer of salt, otherwise it will not play exactly any role. In addition, there are a number of recommendations from leading chefs that are worth following.
- You can’t salt the dish, you can not be afraid.
- Thin parts of the wings may burn. It is recommended to make incisions in the breast and hide them in it.
- It is better to tie the tibia with a thread and tie it tightly to the chicken.
- Wash the carcass thoroughly and pat it several times with paper towels.
- Do not count on quick results; salt baking takes longer than just baking sheets.
- Rub chicken with a mixture of your favorite seasonings inside and out. So, the meat will be more spicy and aromatic.
- Place the bird on a baking sheet with the abdomen up so that the juices remain inside the carcass.
- If you want to speed up the cooking process, then cut the chicken into two halves. Due to this, uniform cooking of meat occurs.
How to Pickle Chicken
A well-prepared carcass is already half the success. There are a huge number of marinades, but not all of them are ideal for poultry. Today, consider the culinary experts recommend for a tender chicken. Since you can prepare chicken for salt in the oven in various ways, you can surprise guests with different tastes each time:
- Honey and soy pickle. Very exquisite and delicate at the same time. It harmonizes perfectly with the bird and is therefore recommended for cooking in the oven. Mix in one cup 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of liquid honey and soy sauce. This amount is enough per kilogram of chicken. After cooking, it acquires a caramel hue and a rich taste. In the marinade, you must leave the meat for 2 to 3 hours.
- Orange marinade. Very good for cooking whole carcasses. For a chicken weighing 1.5 kg, you will need to take 7 - 8 tablespoons, a large orange, 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil and a couple of teaspoons of liquid honey. Rub the chicken with paprika, and then mix the remaining marinade ingredients in a cup. Pour them chicken and send to the oven without preheating it in advance.
- Kefir marinade. The meat in this recipe is very tasty and juicy. For 1.5 kg, 2 tablespoons of mustard will be required, preferably not too sharp. Add half a liter of low-fat kefir and a few garlic cloves. Additionally, it is recommended to add a couple of tablespoons of oil, a little black pepper and dried basil. This is one of the options for slow marinade. Submerge the chicken in this mixture and refrigerate overnight. After that, you can dry the surface of the chicken and put it on salt.
- Bird in mayonnaise. This is the easiest and one of the most successful options. For one kilogram of carcass, you need to take 120 g of mayonnaise and a few cloves of garlic. Grind the garlic and mix it with mayonnaise, add black pepper. Place the meat in the marinade for several hours, and then place in the oven.
For experienced chefs or beginners
The chicken cooked on salt in the oven is so beautiful that it’s hard for young housewives to believe that they can do something like that. In fact, everything is not so complicated. You need to try it once and make sure that it is not difficult at all. Baked chicken on salt turns out juicy, but at the same time it is covered with a crispy golden crust. The dream of any foodie.
A minimum of effort - and you will also get an excellent chicken with a crust. In the oven, baked with salt, it is suitable even for baby and diet food. It is ideal not only for every day, but also looks great on the holiday table. Everyone will want not only an additive, but they will definitely ask for a recipe.
Chicken on a pillow of salt
Here the hostess has a field for experimentation. You can choose any marinade, coat the chicken with mayonnaise or ketchup, hold it for several hours in Provence herbs, apple cider vinegar or soy sauce. This allows you to get a brighter and more saturated taste. In addition, marinated meat is juicy, and cooks faster.
Chicken baked on salt in the oven is a classic, with which one must begin to comprehend the basics of culinary art. Whatever cooking option you choose, the principle and features of the recipe remain the same. The chicken needs to be laid out on a salt pillow. In order to make the dish even more aromatic and tasty, herbs and spices are added to the salt substrate. Serve chicken with any vegetables. Here, on a salt cushion, you can lay out slices of potatoes.
In salt crust
Remember how they baked fish and potatoes in clay crust on a camping trip? After cooking, it could be easily broken, while the scales and potato skins remain on it. And you get a fragrant fish pulp or a tender baked vegetable, ready to eat.
You can do the same with meat. Roll chicken in salt - and into the oven! The recipe is extremely simple, as you can see. After a certain time, a dense crust is obtained, inside of which there is tender meat. The only negative - it has to be served on the table without a crust. It turns out too salted. You can try to cool the chicken and cut it into slices of sandwiches, then the salty crust will break free and serve as a protection against drying.
Cooking methods
Today we are considering basic recipes. Chicken in the oven on the salt, as already mentioned, can be cooked in different ways. That is, you can change the recipe as you wish, add spices and herbs. So, you need a small carcass, about a kilogram. From seasonings, it is recommended to take a couple of tablespoons of Provencal herbs and 0.5 kg of salt. In addition, take a bunch of parsley and dill, an orange and a couple of cloves of garlic.
First of all, you need to prepare the chicken. To do this, wash and dry the carcass with a paper towel. The second point is very important, since excess moisture will interfere with baking a delicious crust.
Grind the garlic using a press and remove the zest from the orange with a fine grater.
Grind greens and mix it with salt, add garlic and zest.
Put the bird in the seasoning cup and roll it. The entire surface should be evenly coated with salt.
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Depending on the size, the chicken will be ready in about an hour and a half. Serve it without the skin. Fresh vegetables and greens will be an excellent side dish.
Curry Chicken
A great combination that everyone will appreciate. Curry perfectly complements the taste of the bird, making it brighter and more saturated. Oven-baked chicken is cooked with a minimum of ingredients. At the same time, it turns out to be tasty and juicy, and the crust is crispy. For cooking you will need: a small chicken carcass, a tablespoon of turmeric, a teaspoon of curry, one and a half kilograms of salt.
The method of preparation differs little from those that we have already examined. The carcass must be prepared in a similar way, after which it should be thoroughly grated with seasonings. This will improve not only the taste, but also the appearance of the bird. It turns out to be much more beautiful than what you can buy in the department of finished gastronomy.
And most importantly: in order to cook the whole salt chicken in the oven, it is necessary to maintain an average temperature throughout the entire cooking process. Professionals recommend 180 degrees. At this temperature, the meat cooks slowly, preserving all the juices.
It is recommended to place parchment with sides on a baking sheet or round pan. Pour salt over it with a thick layer, and on top of it spread your favorite aromatic herbs and garlic. Place the chicken on a salt pillow. Place in the oven and cook over low heat for an hour. This is all you need to know to cook chicken on salt in the oven. Whole fried, it turns out fantastically appetizing in appearance, fragrant, juicy and very tasty.
To test readiness, you need to pierce the breast or thigh with a fork. If a turbid liquid is released, it means that you need to hold the bird in the oven a little more. If the juice is clear, then get it. To dry the bird is also not what.
Spicy dish
A wonderful option for lovers of bright tastes is a recipe with pepper. Whole salt-baked chicken in the oven turns out to be very beautiful, but sometimes its taste seems too gentle to men. Now we will fix it. This recipe combines various seasonings, which makes the dish even more flavorful and delicious. At the same time, the recipe leaves room for your culinary creativity. Seasonings can be mixed with a little adjika or tomato sauce. This will improve not only the quality of the dish, but also its appearance.
To cook the whole chicken on salt, you need to take a small carcass, wash and dry it. Immediately set to preheat the oven. In a large cup, mix a few tablespoons of oil, a tablespoon of black pepper and half a teaspoon of red. Add a third of a tablespoon of thyme, marjoram and turmeric. Thoroughly rub the chicken inside and out with this mixture. Now it remains to pour about one and a half kilograms of salt into the form. Move the chicken onto it and bake 180 degrees. If you cook the whole chicken, it should spend at least an hour and a half in the salt oven.
Chicken with Lemon
If the holiday is approaching, then I want to surprise and please the guests! Note to the hostess: the best combination is citrus acidity and chicken.
Alternatively, you can cook whole baked chicken (in salt). The recipe - step by step, with a detailed description of the process - will help prevent annoying mistakes and do everything the way it should. You will definitely be satisfied with the result. The chicken turns juicy and tender, fragrant, with a beautiful crust and light acidity. Moreover, the ingredients are very simple and affordable. Judging by the reviews, the chicken on the salt, baked in the oven, turns out to be truly magnificent.
For cooking, you need a chicken carcass weighing 1.5 kg. In addition, take 1 lemon, dried basil and thyme, as well as oregano in a tablespoon. Packing coarse salt for baking.
- Put salt in the mold and set the oven to bask 180 degrees.
- Rub the birds with spices.
- Pour boiling water over the lemon and completely shove it inside the bird. It will give a special aroma and taste.
- Lay the bird on a pillow.
- Bake for about an hour and a half, before serving, do not forget to remove the lemon from the bird.
Poultry feed
Chicken prepared in this way will be the best decoration for any table. Fresh and baked vegetables are best for a side dish. Do not forget to cook greens. She will decorate the chicken and allow her to be served truly royal. On a large dish, lettuce leaves can be spread on which to plant the bird. And from above you can stick sprigs of parsley and dill. Perfectly complement the picture snow-white peaks of mashed potatoes. For an example consider the photos presented in article. The chicken on the salt, cooked in the oven, turns out fantastically beautiful. I can’t even believe that such a work of art can be prepared with minimal effort. Try it and the guests will surely be satisfied.
Instead of a conclusion
Among the variety of recipes for cooking chicken in the oven for salt, you are sure to find one that your family will like. But even without using complex marinades, you will still cook a delicious dish. It is enough to grate the bird with pepper or your favorite seasoning mixture and spread on a baking sheet.
Culinary experts note that to get a crispy golden crust, it is best to use dry marinade, that is, spices and vegetable oil. Tomato sauce and kefir give an excellent taste, but they are also sources of liquid. It is better to separate these two dishes. Either fill the bird with kefir and bake under a gentle crust, or cook on a pillow of salt.