Roast chicken with veg and herby brown rice

Great

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Bring the chicken up to room temperature

Step 2

Rinse the rice, tip into a bowl, cover with cold water, and leave to soak for 30-45 minutes

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 200°c

Step 4

Trim the fennel and celery, then cut into 5mm diagonal slices

Step 5

Thickly slice the onions

Step 6

Thinly slice the garlic

Step 7

Pick the parsley and mint or tarragon leaves, and finely chop

Step 8

Zest and juice the lemon

Step 9

Place the fennel and celery in a fairly deep ovenproof dish or roasting tray (that will fit the chicken with just a little room around it)

Step 10

Add the onions, garlic, a trickle of oil, and seasoning

Step 11

Toss well, then spread out evenly

Step 12

Tuck in the bay leaves and thyme

Step 13

Rub a little oil over the chicken, and season well

Step 14

Place the chicken on top of the veg, in the centre, tilted to one side

Step 15

Roast the chicken and veg for 15 minutes, until the thigh and breast start to turn golden

Step 16

Take the dish out of the oven, adjust the chicken to tilt to the other side, and stir the veg

Step 17

Return the dish to the oven for another 15 minutes

Step 18

Take the dish out of the oven

Step 19

Lower the oven to 160°c

Step 20

Lift the chicken onto a board

Step 21

Drain the rice, rinse, then tip into the dish and stir

Step 22

Place the chicken back on top, then pour enough hot stock around it to just cover the rice and veg and come up the side of the chicken

Step 23

Return the dish to the oven for another 30-40 minutes, until the chicken is golden and cooked through, and the rice is tender

Step 24

Toast the nuts in a dry frying pan over a medium-high heat for a few minutes, until golden

Step 25

Check the chicken is cooked, then lift onto a warmed platter and set aside to rest

Step 26

If the rice isn't quite cooked, add a splash of stock and return to the oven for 5-10 minutes

Step 27

Add the nuts, herbs, lemon zest, half the lemon juice, and rocket to the rice, and stir

Step 28

Carve the chicken

Step 29

Serve