Bid farewell to the traditional roasted chicken by giving it a dip in an Asian-inspired marinade.

What to buy: Tamari is wheat-free soy sauce. It can be found in gourmet groceries and Asian markets. If you have a hard time finding it, you can substitute soy sauce, but check the marinade’s flavor because regular soy sauce is saltier.

This recipe was featured as part of our Chinese New Year Dishes photo gallery.

  • Yields: 4 servings
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Total: 1 hr 50 mins, plus overnight marinating time 

Ingredients (9)

  • 8 medium garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium shallots, minced
  • 1/4 cup peanut oil
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons five-spice powder
  • 1 (5- to 6-pound) chicken, rinsed and patted dry
  • 1/4 cup tamari
  • 4 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 3 teaspoons honey

Instructions

  1. Combine the garlic, shallots, oil, salt, and five-spice powder in a small bowl. Place the chicken in a large resealable plastic bag or a glass dish.
  2. Loosen the skin from the breast and legs of the chicken and, using your hands, spread half of the oil-spice mixture underneath. Rub the remaining half inside the chicken cavity.
  3. In a medium nonreactive bowl, whisk together the tamari, fish sauce, and honey until evenly combined. Pour over the chicken and massage briefly into the skin. Cover the chicken, refrigerate, and let marinate 12 hours or overnight.
  4. Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and discard the marinade. Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before roasting.
  5. When the oven is heated, place the chicken, breast side down, in a roasting pan or baking dish. Roast for 20 minutes, then flip so the breast is facing up. After another 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350°F.
  6. Continue roasting until the juices run clear when the inner thigh is pierced with a knife, the legs move easily in the joint, and a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the thigh reads 160°F to 165°F, about 60 to 70 minutes. Let the chicken rest at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Beverage pairing: Toni Jost Bacharacher Hahn Riesling Kabinett, Germany. Something bright, precise, and cutting to take on all the umami from the tamari, fish sauce, and chicken. A little sweetness to handle the honey.