Roasted Chicken with Ricotta & Herb Filling

This recipe is one of my all-time go-to roast chicken recipes. You may not be able to tell in the dark, blueish photo above, but with this recipe you get a beautifully browned, moist chicken every time with a tasty, cheesy ricotta and herb filling that lands somewhere between a soufflé and a popover. The chicken is spatchcocked -- butterflied and spread flat, easier than it may sound -- which ensures even cooking throughout the bird. The filling is so tasty on its own though, that you could easily skip that, roast your chicken in your usual way and just cook the filling on its own. This recipe makes extra filling anyway to be cooked separately. Be sure to use a high-quality ricotta as it provides the main flavor.

Roasted Chicken with Ricotta and Herb Filling
Adapted from Gourmet, July 2007

Filling
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 Tb extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups whole-milk ricotta (preferably fresh; 2 pounds)
1 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 Tb chopped fresh oregano
2 Tb chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Chicken
1 whole chickens (about 3 1/2 pounds)
1 Tb extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400°F with racks in middle and lower third. Oil a large shallow roasting pan.

Filling:
Heat oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until just golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in ricotta, eggs, parmesan, herbs, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

Chicken:
Remove backbone from chicken with kitchen shears by cutting down either side of the bone as close as possible and then removing. Pat chickens dry inside and out, then spread flat, skin sides up. Cut a 1/2-inch slit on each side of chicken in the triangle of skin between the thigh and breast near the drumstick, then tuck the knob of each drumstick through slit. (Here is a more detailed photo how-to for spatchcocking from the San Francisco Chronicle.)

Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and spread flat, skin side up, in prepared pan. Gently slide your finger between skin and flesh of breast and legs to loosen skin being careful not to tear skin. Using a small spoon, slide 2/3 cup ricotta mixture under skin, using a finger on outside of skin to spread filling over meat of breast, thighs, and drumsticks. Tuck wing tips under. Brush skin all over with 1 tablespoon oil (1 tablespoon) and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Spoon remaining filling into an oiled 1-quart shallow baking dish (approximately 10 x 7 inches).

Bake chicken in middle of oven 30 minutes, then put dish of stuffing in oven on lower rack. Continue baking until chicken is just cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of a thigh (through stuffing; do not touch bone) registers 170°F and until gratin is puffed and golden, about 30 minutes more. Let chicken rest 10 minutes, then cut into quarters. Serve with baked filling.