Black pepper chicken & lemon yogurt
Prep
45 mins
Cook
30 mins
Servings
4
Difficulty
Medium
There's something about a perfectly roasted chicken that feels both impressive and effortless, and this black pepper version is exactly that. I love how the toasted peppercorns create this incredible crust while the lemon yogurt keeps everything beautifully moist inside. The whole thing comes together in just 75 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner that doesn't feel rushed. Greek yogurt is packed with protein and probiotics, so you're getting something genuinely nourishing alongside all that wonderful flavor. The spatchcock method means faster, more even cooking, and honestly, once your chicken is prepped, you're basically just popping it in the oven and relaxing. Serve it with peppered rice and fresh coriander for a restaurant quality meal that costs a fraction of takeout.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 1 tbspblack peppercorns
- 15 garlic cloves grated(plus 1 whole garlic bulb)
- 1 tspground turmeric
- 12 lemons 1 juiced(plus extra wedges to serve)
- 1 kgwhole chicken spatchcocked(see tip, below)
- 1 tbspolive oil
- 400 ggreek yogurt
- 1 smallbunch of coriander roughly chopped(optional)
- 1peppered rice to serve(see 'goes well with')
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
Crush the peppercorns using a pestle and mortar. Add the grated garlic and ½ tsp salt, and mash to a thick paste. Stir in the turmeric and lemon juice, then set aside.
- 2
Sit the chicken in a dish, skin-side up, and evenly slash the skin all over. Rub the marinade all over the chicken so it’s completely coated, then cover and chill for at least 1 hr, or ideally overnight.
- 3
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Transfer the chicken to a shallow roasting tray, skin-side up, and sit the garlic bulb alongside it. Drizzle the oil mostly over the chicken and a little over the garlic. Roast for 30 mins, then remove the garlic bulb from the tray and set aside. Continue to roast the chicken for 10-15 mins more, or until crisp-skinned and cooked all the way through. If you have a cooking thermometer, it should read at least 65C when inserted into the breast, and 70C in the thigh. Leave the chicken to rest, uncovered, for 10-15 mins in the tray.
- 4
Meanwhile, peel and squeeze the garlic from the roasted bulb into a bowl, then mix in the yogurt. When the chicken has rested, lift it onto a board and stir all the resting pan juices into the yogurt. Taste the yogurt for seasoning, adding a bit more lemon juice if needed. Slice the chicken into pieces and serve scattered with coriander, if using, alongside the yogurt sauce, peppered yellow rice (see recipe, below) and lemon wedges on the side, if you like.
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