Pistachio, Sage & Cream Cheese Roast Cockerel

Change it up a little. This a crispy roasted cockerel smothered and filled with a creamy cheese sauce is sure to please. Topped with a bacon lid, sprinkled with chopped pistachio and seasoned with sage it creates a perfect harmony of flavours with a twist.


Preperation Time: 25 mins plus resting

Cooking Time: 2h 30m

Serves: 6


§

Ingredients

1 x 4kg Packington Free Range Cockerel
1 x 150g packet garlic and herb Boursin cheese
1 clove garlic, crushed
25g unsalted and shelled
pistachio nuts, chopped
grated rind and juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tbsp fresh chopped sage
8 rashers smoked streaky bacon
olive oil
4 tbsp sherry
400 ml good chicken stock or vegetable juices

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 C/Gas Mark 4. Mix together the cheese, garlic, pistachios, lemon rind and juice, sage and seasoning until well combined.
  2. Place the cockerel on a board and carefully ease your fingers then your hand under the skin of the cockerel at the neck end freeing it from the breast meat. Smear the cheese mixture over the breast meat under the skin. Then tuck the flap of skin underneath.
  3. Arrange the bacon over the breast and drizzle over oil and season. Place in a large roasting tin and cover with foil. Calculate cooking time allowing 16 minutes per 450g/1lb plus 16 minutes or until juices run clear from the thigh when pierced with a knife or skewer. Remove the foil for the last 45 minutes to allow the cockerel to brown.
  4. Remove the cockerel from the oven and transfer to a warm serving plate. Cover with foil and allow to rest for 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, skim most of the fat from the roasting pan and discard. Scrape the meat juices in the pan together. Place over a low heat and blend in sherry and stock. Bring to the boil, stirring and season to taste. Serve the gravy with the Cockerel.