Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Chicken

BALSAMIC GLAZED CHICKEN

4 pounds whole chicken
2 cloves garlic finely minced
4 tablespoon rosemary leaves chopped
2 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
5 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 ounces prosciutto rind or bacon
2 ounces parmiggiano-reggiano rind
2 medium red onions 1 inch thick slices
3/4 cup lambrusco or other dry red wine
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Remove the giblets and set aside.

Combine the garlic, rosemary, black pepper, and sea salt and mix with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Rub the outside of the chicken all over with the rosemary mixture. Place the proscuitto and cheese rinds inside the cavity. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

TO COOK:
Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.

Place the onion slices and reserved giblets in the bottom of a small, heavy-bottomed roasting pan. Place the chicken on top of the onions, breast side up. Pour the wine over the chicken and rub all over with 1/4 cup of the vinegar.

Roast in the oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a skewer pushed into the thickest part of the thigh shows clear - not bloody - juices. Remove the pan from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes.

Transfer the chicken to a carving platter. Degrease the pan juices. Combine the onions and giblets with the pan juices. Carve the chicken. Drizzle with the remaining 1/4 cup vinegar. Pass the giblet gravy separately.

Source: Simple Italian Food by Mario Batali