It is one thing to prepare a dish, and another to have people literarily lining up for a taste of it or even ‘booking’ your Sundays to prepare that recipe because of its mouthwatering experience – even if it’s family!

That’s the story behind Dakkie’s signature dish – a whole roasted chicken which was inspired by Samin Nosrat after reading her book and Netflix series Salt Fat Acid Heat. Her recipe inspired her after which she did a bit of research on her own and then created her first roasted chicken for her family.

Soon, the word spread to her mom’s sisters who invited her over every week to prepare her roast chicken for her family. She really looked forward to those moments because she enjoyed watching people relish her food and crave for more!

This became the first dish she sold as a professional chef and business owner and that’s how Sunday Roast Special and Da’Quisine Culinary Services was born and has evolved to what it is now.

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken, at room temperature giblets and neck removed from the cavity
• 50gr unsalted butter, melted
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 fresh whole rosemary sprigs; chopped
• 5 fresh whole thyme sprigs; chopped
• 1 chili; chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). Line a baking tray with baking paper (a roasting pan can be used if adding vegetables, the vegetables will sit at the bottom of the pan while the chicken will be on a rack on top of the vegetables)

Discard neck from inside the cavity and remove any excess fat and leftover feathers. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

Season the chicken inside and outside with the salt and black pepper.

Mix the melted butter, garlic, rosemary, thyme and chilli then spread all over the chicken.

Place breast-side down into baking tray or roasting pan. Roast for 30 minutes then turn over to the breast side up and roast for another 30 – 45 minutes, until juices run clear when chicken thigh is pierced with a skewer.

Remove from the oven, cover with foil and allow to stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Tip: An easy gravy can be made by adding a tablespoon of cornflour and some of the pan juices to make a paste. Then add the paste to the pan juices and cook on medium heat until thickened.

This seemingly simple recipe will leave your taste buds singing worship songs to the Lord and when shared together with family or friends builds a lasting bond that is born out of them gathering together every weekend to enjoy this tasty delight at your home.