Honey-Glazed Five-Spice Chicken

From the people at Whole Foods Market, a hearty twist to traditional roast chicken. Whole Foods is also offering a printable $5 off $25 purchase coupon on their Web site, good from now until October 23 (2008). It’s a rare opportunity to purchase organic foods at a discount.

Honey-Glazed Five Spice Chicken
Serves 4
Add a sweet and spicy Asian note to the holidays with this effortless chicken dish. The savory spice mixture seals in the natural juices and ensures superbly tender meat, and the honey butter glaze adds a delightful finishing touch.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice power
1 teaspoon salt
1 (3 1/2-pound) whole chicken
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons honey

Method
Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mix five spice powder and salt together and rub all over, including inside the cavity. Place chicken on a rack, breast side up, in a roasting pan. Pour 1 cup water in bottom of pan. Roast for 1 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, stir butter and honey together in a small bowl to make a glaze and set aside. Remove chicken from the oven and increase oven temperature to 450°F. Brush half of the honey butter glaze all over the chicken, then return it to the oven and roast for 5 minutes more. Remove chicken, brush the remaining glaze over it, then return to the oven for about 5 minutes more, until chicken is crispy, well browned and an instant read thermometer registers 170° in the breast meat and 180° in the thigh meat.

Remove chicken from the oven and set aside to let rest for 15 minutes before carving.

^{(photo and recipe courtesy of Whole Foods Market)}