Pesto Stuffed Chicken With Couscous Salad

Name: Pesto Stuffed Chicken With Couscous Salad
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 130 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian Comfort
Ingredients: 1.8kg Lilydale Free Range whole chicken; 2 tsp olive oil; 50g pancetta, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 4 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped; 1 cup sourdough breadcrumbs; 100g halloumi, grated; 2 tbsp store-bought basil pesto; Roasted lemon halves, garlic cloves, to serve (optional); 125g butter, at room temperature; 2 tsp store-bought basil pesto; 1 Â½ cups Israeli couscous; 1 Â½ cups boiling water; Â¼ cup store-bought pesto; 300g truss cherry tomatoes; Zest of 1 lemon

25 mins Prep

105 mins Cook

4 Serves

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1.8kg Lilydale Free Range whole chicken
2 tsp olive oil
50g pancetta, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped
1 cup sourdough breadcrumbs
100g halloumi, grated
2 tbsp store-bought basil pesto
Roasted lemon halves, garlic cloves, to serve (optional)

Basil Butter

125g butter, at room temperature
2 tsp store-bought basil pesto

Couscous Salad

1 ½ cups Israeli couscous
1 ½ cups boiling water
¼ cup store-bought pesto
300g truss cherry tomatoes
Zest of 1 lemon

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Preheat oven to 160° (Fan Forced) or 180°C (Conventional).
Heat oil in a small frying pan on medium heat. Cook pancetta, stirring for 5 mins or until browned. Add garlic and thyme and cook for 30 secs, until fragrant. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Add breadcrumbs, halloumi, and pesto and stir to combine.
Make Basil Butter. Mix together butter and pesto until smooth.
Remove chicken from packaging and pat dry inside and out with kitchen paper. Gently ease fingers under the breast skin to separate from chicken. Push Basil Butter under the skin, smoothing down as you go. Fill cavity with halloumi stuffing. Secure legs with twine.
Place chicken in a baking dish. Bake for 30 mins per 500g or until internal temperature reaches 75°C and juices run clear.
Make couscous salad. Place couscous and boiling water in a small saucepan. Cook on medium heat, partially covered for 5 mins. Remove from heat and stand for 5 mins, covered. Drain and rinse under cold water. Transfer to a serving bowl, add pesto and toss to combine.
Place truss tomatoes on a small tray and bake for 10 mins, until just beginning to soften. Add to couscous and serve topped with lemon zest.