Porchetta-style chicken by Alessia Morabito
This is a simple recipe for those who love poultry, sausages and herbs. It is a boneless chicken, seasoned with herbs as Tuscan Porchetta is usually prepared and cooked at low temperature fully immersed in olive oil. In addition to the herbs and add even more flavour to the dish, the chicken is stuffed with a peeled sausage.
But the secret of the great flavour of this Porchetta-style chicken probably lies in the cooking method called "oliocottura", a process similar to what is used in France to prepare Confit de canard, but instead of animal fat you use olive oil.
"Oliocottura" means cooking food in oil at a low temperature for a long time (so you’re not actually frying the food). Food cooked in oil retains all of its natural flavors and does not lose its juices. The oil is not absorbed by the chicken, as it does not penetrate into the tissues and you can store your dish in a big glass jar with its flavorful oil. For this recipe we travelled to the Maremma to meet the Tuscan chef Alessia Morabito.
Ingredients
- 1 boned chicken, divided into two
- 2 sausages
- Pepper, garlic, sage, rosemary, salt, bay leaves, fennel seeds, nutmeg, star anise
- About a liter and a half of olive oil in order to cover all the chicken (don't use extra virgin olive oil because flavour is too strong. You can either use 80% peanut oil and 20% olive oil)
Method
Season the chicken with garlic, sage, rosemary and salt
Add the peeled sausage
Roll up and tie with a string
Lay the chicken in a pot with its two wings, spices and herbs
Cover completely with oil and cook for about 3 hours at 70 degrees
About Chef Alessia Morabito
Alessia was born in Pisa and her heart lies in the Maremma. She loves her work and her adoptive land. She is an alchemist interpreting local cuisine.
