Oven-Roasted Chicken With Forty Garlic Cloves

Ingredients

• 2 (1 kg) chicken
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and black pepper
• 1 lemon
• thinly sliced
• 10 -14 sprigs rosemary
• be generous
• 4 heads garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 12 cup water

Instructions

1. WASH and clean the inside cavity of each chicken, and pat dry with absorbent paper.
2. Rub oil over each chicken.
3. Season each generously with salt and pepper, using your hands to rub the seasoning thoroughly over the chicken.
4. Tuck the wing tips under the chicken, place a few lemon slices inside the cavity of each chicken, followed by sprigs of herbs.
5. Tie the legs together with kitchen string.
6. Place the chickens side by side in a deep casserole dish (one with a tight fitting lid).
7. See note:
8. Twist the central stalk of the garlic heads to loosen the cloves, rub away any loose papery skin but don't peel the cloves.
9. Sprinkle cloves around the chickens, add remaining lemon slices and sprigs of herbs, and drizzle with extra olive oil.
10. Note: If you do not have a tight fitting lid use sealing paste.
11. TO MAKE SEALING PASTE blend flour with combined oil and water to form a dough-like paste.
12. With your fingers, spread the paste around the edge of the casserole dish and gently press the lid over the paste.
13. COOK the chicken in a moderately slow 160c oven for 2 hours.
14. Do not remove the lid.
15. A green salad is all you need as an accompaniment.