Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Dutch Oven Chicken Experiment


We have been very big fans of Joanie & Dean over at Outdoor Cast Iron Cooking for a while now and this has lead us to search out other great cast iron cooking videos. The other day we came across a dutch oven chicken meal that looked very good, this was over at Snowalker13's channel.
While out back chopping firewood on a very nice day we put together a small fire pit and cooked up a version of this dish. The wood pile took up too much time to allow for a full video but we did take some pics of the cook. Hope you enjoy.

Here is what was in the pot

Dutch Oven Chicken

Some Oil
5 Yellow Potatoes / halved
1 Turnip / peeled & sliced
1 Yellow Onion / chopped
2 Large Carrots / peeled & sliced
3 Stalks Celery / chopped
some Rosemary, Sage & Thyme
2 to 3 Cups Turkey Stock
12 OZ Pilsner Beer
2 TBS Wondra - new to me - used for a thickener
Tango Spice Twist & Shout Rub

1 Roasting Chicken / split

Putting this together was real simple.
Put 2 or 3 TBS canola or olive oil in the dutch oven, add the sliced potatoes and slide around to coat. Set them all sliced side up and sprinkle with Twist & Shout.
Add the turnip, onion, carrots, celery and herbs.
Pour in the turkey stock.
Mix the pilsner and the wondra and pout into the pot.
Place chicken on top of the other ingredients, skin side up and sprinkle on some Twist & Shout.
Close the lid and place on some hot coals.

Now I know that I am not using the Dutch oven in the exact right way. There is a coal count for the bottom and the top. Since I was busy with wood chopping and other yard work it was easier for me to just set it and check back on it every once in a while. 
The chicken I had was also a little over 7 pounds, and cooking a 5 pounder would have been better as it would have fit nicer under the lid. Since it did sit so high I did not put any coals on the lid until 20 minutes into the cook.
As I start using the Dutch oven more, I will definitely start to count coals and check the timing more closely. One thing I know is that the chicken came out amazingly moist, and this is a very cool way to prepare a hot meal while messing around in the yard.

You can check out Snowalker's video here.

As Always, Thank You For Reading!
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Ingredients Are Ready

Simple Fire Ring

Seasoned Potatoes

Ready For The Chicken

Needs Some Twist & Shout

That's Better

Now We're Cookin'!

Ready For Some Top Heat

A Few Coals On The Top

Blackened Chicken - Yum


Ready To Eat

Moist & Delicious!