Chinese Five Spice Lacquered Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken

• 1 chicken, trimmed of excess fat, giblets removed (3-4 pound)
• 3 scallions, cut in 4 pieces (white and green parts used)
• 6 slices fresh ginger (1/4-inch)
• 1 strip orange zest (1x3-inch)
• 2 teaspoons peanut oil
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons five-spice powder

Sauce

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon orange zest, finely grated
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced (white and green parts)

Directions

1. 1

   Chicken:.

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 425*F.

3. 3

   Stuff the chicken cavity with the scallions, ginger, and orange zest. Set a v or regular rack in a roasting pan and brush with 1 teaspoons of the peanut oil. Whisk the rermaining 1 teaspoons peanut oil with the sesame oil, honey, and soy sauce. Brush the soy mixture over all of the chicken and sprinkle with five spice powder.

4. 4

   Tuck the wings under the back, cross the legs, and tie them with kitchen twine. Place the chicken breast side down on the rack and roast until the back is golden brown, 35-40 minutes.

5. 5

   Remove chicken from the oven and turn it over, breast side up. Cut the string where it holds the legs together and gently open the legs a bit. Baste the chicken with the pan drippings and roast again until the breast is golden brown and a meat thremometer inserted in the thigh registers 170*F., 20-25 minutes more. Move to a carving board and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

6. 6

   To make sauce:.

7. 7

   Whisk the soy sauce with the rice vinegar, sesame oil, orange zest, ginger, garlic and scallion in a small bowl.

8. 8

   Carve the chicken into 8 pieces, serve, and pass the dipping sauce at the table. Enjoy!