100mldry white wine such as De Wetshof Limestone Hill Chardonnay
1heaped teaspoon Dijon mustard
2clovesgarliccrushed
3bay leaves (optional
Stuffing:
Splash of olive oil or a knob of butter
½white onion very finely chopped
½applepeeled and grated
3pork sausagesremoved from their casings
¼cupbreadcrumbs or panko crumbs
A small handful of parsley leavesfinely chopped
6– 8 sage leavesfinely chopped
Salt and pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180C / 350 F.
Heat the olive oil or butter in a non-stick frying pan and fry the onion until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the apple and continue to cook for a further minute. Allow to cool slightly.
Add the onion mixture to a bowl with the sausage meat, breadcrumbs, chopped herbs and seasonings and mix well. Divide this mixture into two and stuff each baby chicken with it. Tie the legs tightly together (truss) with a piece of string.
Place the two chickens snugly in a high-sided roasting dish. Mix the stock, white wine, Dijon mustard and garlic together and pour this over the chickens. Add the bay leaves to the dish and bake as follows in the oven
Breast side facing up – 20 minutes
Flipped over with underside facing up – 20 minutes
Flipped back upright with breasts facing up – 20 minutes and until golden brown.
Baste the chickens each time you flip them, and if the stock gets very dry, add a splash of hot water to the tray.
Remove the chickens from the pan and if necessary add a little more hot water to the pan and scrape up any pan juices and heat through. This makes the most delicious gravy to serve with the chicken. Serve with a crusty baguette or country loaf to mop up any excess.
Notes
The stuffing can be made in advance, and you can pre-prepare the stuffing for the chickens up to the day before.