Dry the chicken and rub salt and pepper into it.

Make a »nest« of hay in the baking dish, put sprigs of basil, bay leaves, sage and unpeeled garlic cloves in it. Place the chicken in the middle. Heat the lard in a separate bowl and pour it over the chicken so that the skin crisps.

Place the baking dish in a preheated oven and roast with the upper grill function at 220°C for about 10 minutes until nicely brown. Then turn the chicken over and roast on the other side for about 10 minutes. Cover the baking dish and bake the chicken at 160°C with the fan function on for about 60–70 minutes. If necessary, pour the stock over the chicken during baking.

Where do I get hay?

For this recipe, we use the highest quality hay that has not been treated with harmful substances. We recommend the use of organic hay. If there is no farm nearby where you could get such hay, you can ask at a larger pet store.

Recipe is from PP cook book Smells like home, contributed by Brigita Majcen Peklar, Slovenia.