Roasted Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Potatoes

This classic meal is economical and easy to prepare. Although we call for thyme, you can use any fresh herbs you have on hand tarragon, chives, rosemary, or a mix of any of them will work in the potatoes.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half or 1 thigh and 1 drumstick, and 1/2 cup potatoes)

Cost per Serving: $2.33

2 lemons
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 garlic cloves, minced and divided
1 (3 1/2-pound) whole chicken
6 garlic cloves, crushed
1 1/2 pounds red potatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves

1. Grate rind from lemons to measure 2 tablespoons. Reserve lemons. Combine 5 teaspoons rind, 3/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves in a small bowl.

2. Remove and discard chicken giblets and neck. Loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers and gently pushing between skin and meat. Rub rind mixture under loosened skin over flesh. Tuck wing tips under chicken. Place chicken in a shallow dish; refrigerate, uncovered, 4 hours or overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 425°.

4. Quarter reserved lemons. Place lemon quarters and 6 crushed garlic cloves into chicken cavity; tie ends of legs together with cord. Place chicken, breast side up, in a roasting pan. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375° (do not remove chicken from oven). Bake 40 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into meaty portion of thigh registers 165°. Remove from oven; let stand 15 minutes.

5. Place potatoes in a saucepan; cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes or until tender; drain. Combine potatoes, 1 teaspoon rind, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 minced garlic cloves, butter, and thyme. Discard chicken skin; carve.

CALORIES 379 ; FAT 12.7g (sat 5.5g,mono 4.1g,poly 1.8g); CHOLESTEROL 94mg; CALCIUM 35mg; CARBOHYDRATE 33.3g; SODIUM 601mg; PROTEIN 30.9g; FIBER 2.7g; IRON 3.1mg

Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2010