(Jamie Oliver's) Big- Daddy's Beer Butt Chicken

G has now made this dish twice on the BBQ and both times it was a success... the chicken roasts so succulently and the meat falls straight off the bone- it is so moreish and a hit with guests. 

We have served it with corn on the cob and fresh salad. Perfect fro a summer BBQ.

I have included the recipe below, published as Jamie Oliver's recipe.

Enjoy.

Serves 4

1 large whole chicken (approx. 1.5kg) preferably free-range or organic

1 473ml can of Budweiser or other lager

For the rub

1 heaped teaspoon of fennel seeds

1 level teaspoon cumin seeds

1 level teaspoon smoked paprika

1 heaped teaspoon brown sugar

1 level teaspoon milk chili powder

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

olive oil

Preheat your BBQ or oven to 200 degrees celsius/gas 6. take your chicken out of the fridge while you make your rub,. In a pestle and mortar, bash up your fennel and cumin seeds and mix with the paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir in about 3 tablespoons of love oil until you get a nice paste. Drizzle this rub all over the chicken, inside and out, using your hands to make sure you get it into the nooks and crannies.

Crack your beer open, have a couple of good swigs so your can is about half full, then lower your chicken's cavity on to the top of the can so it looks as though the chicken is sitting on the can. A bit undignified, I know, but trust me- it's going to be delicious.

If your using the BBQ, try to strategically move a small amount of coals to the sides rather than directly underneath the chicken, so the heat radiates around it and cooks it from all angles rather than grills it. the same principle applies to roasting.

Carefully sit the chicken on the bars of your BBQ or in a tray on the very bottom of your oven. Cook for around 1 hr 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until it's golden and delicious and the meat pulls away from the bone and the juices run clear. If this isn't the case ) all BBQ's and oven's are slightly different) just cook for a bit longer.

Once done, remove the can and loosely cover your chicken with foil and a tea towel while you get some grilled veg, salad or warm breads together- trust me, it tastes so good you won't need much else.

*recipe taken from Jamie's America by Jamie Oliver, published by the Penguin Group, 2009.