Greek chicken with orzo

Name: Greek chicken with orzo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1.8 kg whole free range chicken; 75 g feta, crumbled; 2 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped; 75 g coarse country bread, torn into small pieces; 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, grated to a purée; 2 tsp dried oregano; ½ tsp cayenne pepper; 225 g orzo; 500 ml boiling chicken stock; 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or oregano

A Diana Henry recipe for a delicious alternative to the classic roast chicken dinner.

4.5 out of 5 stars(27) Rate this recipe

Serves6
CourseMain meal
Prepare10 mins
Cook1 hr 30 mins
Total time1 hr 40 mins

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1.8kg whole free range chicken
75g feta, crumbled
2 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
75g coarse country bread, torn into small pieces
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, grated to a purée
2 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp cayenne pepper
225g orzo
500ml boiling chicken stock
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or oregano

Preheat the oven to 190°C, gas mark 5. Put the chicken into an ovenproof dish (I use a cast iron one) or a roasting tin about 30cm across. Mix the feta, tomatoes, bread, 4 tbsp oil, garlic and 1 tsp dried oregano together in a bowl.
Stuff this mixture into the neck cavity of the chicken, then seal and secure with a cocktail stick if needed. Drizzle the chicken with the remaining olive oil, sprinkle with the rest of the dried oregano, the cayenne and seasoning.
Roast in the oven for 50 minutes. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the orzo around the chicken and pour the stock over the orzo. Put this back in the oven to cook for 20 minutes. Check during this time to make sure the orzo isn’t drying – there should be enough stock, but top it up with a little boiling water if needed.
Once the 20 minutes are up the chicken should be cooked – check that the juices run clear, with no trace of pink meat – and the orzo should be tender. The stock should also have been absorbed. Stir the fresh herbs into the orzo. Serve the chicken straight from the pan. A green salad or roasted red peppers are all you need on the side.

Cook’s tip

You can increase the amount of cayenne if you like your food a little hotter.

And to drink...

Angela Hartnett pairs this recipe with Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut NV on episode 5, season 7 of Dish, the Waitrose podcast – a crisp Champagne with elegant fruit and delicate biscuity flavours.

Typical values per serving when made using specific products in recipe