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Harissa roast chicken on a wooden carving board.
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5 from 1 vote

Spicy Harissa Roast Chicken

Looking for a new twist on the classic roast dinner? Try this mouth-watering spicy harissa roast chicken recipe, which pairs perfectly with roasted veggies, rice, salad, or good old-fashioned roast potatoes.
Course Main Course
Cuisine British
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 38 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 349kcal
Author Beth Sachs

Equipment

  • Chopping Board
  • Knife
  • Roasting Tin

Ingredients

  • 1.6 kg Chicken
  • 2 Red Peppers chopped into large chunks
  • 1 Red Onion peeled, quartered and broken into petals
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil

Harissa Rub

  • 3 tablespoon Harissa
  • 2 tablespoon Light Brown Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 Lemon juice (but place the squeezed lemon into the roasting tray for extra flavour)
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Paste
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

Garnish

  • Parsley and Mint finely chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C (160° fan/ 350F).
  • Place the peppers and onions into a roasting tin. Drizzle with oil.
    2 Red Peppers, 1 Red Onion, 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Mix together the harissa rub ingredients in a bowl and spread onto the chicken with a spoon.
    1.6 kg Chicken, 3 tablespoon Harissa, 2 tablespoon Light Brown Sugar, 1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Lemon, 1 teaspoon Garlic Paste, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • Roast in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, until the juices run clear. Test the internal temperature with a meat themeometer (it should reach 75°C). Cover the chicken with foil after 45 minutes to prevent the harissa rub from burning. garnish with chopped mint and parsley before serving.
    Parsley and Mint

Notes

Expert Tips:
  • Make sure to pat the chicken dry before seasoning it with harissa. This will help the harissa paste stick to the chicken better.
  • For a milder flavour, use less harissa paste or mix it with some olive oil or yogurt.
  • If you don't have harissa paste, you can make your own by blending together red chilli flakes, garlic, cumin, coriander, olive oil, and lemon juice.
  • Swap the light brown sugar for honey.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should reach 75°C (165°F) for safe consumption.
 
Variations:
  • If you prefer a milder flavour, you can reduce the amount of harissa used in the recipe. On the other hand, if you love spice, you can add extra harissa or even some chilli flakes to the mix.
  • For a more intense flavour, you can marinate the chicken in harissa paste for several hours before roasting. This will infuse the meat with the spicy, aromatic flavours of harissa.
 
Nutrition:
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
 
Nutrition Facts
Spicy Harissa Roast Chicken
Amount per Serving
Calories
349
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
10
g
15
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
 
0.03
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Cholesterol
 
136
mg
45
%
Sodium
 
3045
mg
132
%
Potassium
 
1133
mg
32
%
Carbohydrates
 
19
g
6
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
47
g
94
%
Vitamin A
 
1322
IU
26
%
Vitamin C
 
63
mg
76
%
Calcium
 
48
mg
5
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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