Ingredients

• 1 lemon
• zest only
• ½ tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 garlic cloves
• crushed
• 4cm/1½in piece fresh root ginger
• peeled and grated
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1.5kg/3lb 5oz free-range chicken
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion
• thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves
• finely chopped
• 1 red chilli
• finely chopped
• 2cm/¾in piece fresh root ginger
• peeled and cut into matchsticks
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 8 cardamom pods
• cracked
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 lemon
• juice only
• 1 butternut squash
• deseeded
• cut into thin wedges
• 4 chicken thighs
• skin only (ask your butcher)
• olive oil
• for drizzling
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp spice rub (see above)

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 160C/140C/Gas 3.
• To make the spice rub
• mix together all the ingredients in a small bowl.
• To sptachcock the chicken
• use sharp kitchen scissors to cut along each side of the breast bone
• cutting through the ribs. Remove the breast bone and flatten the chicken down with the heel of your hand onto a clean surface. Rub with the spice rub
• reserving a little for the crispy chicken skin (if using).
• Put the chicken skin-side up in a large roasting tin and squeeze over the lemon juice.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and gently fry the onion
• garlic
• chilli and ginger until soft. Add the spices and cook for 1–2 minutes.
• Arrange the squash around the chicken
• cover the squash with the spice mixture and toss gently.
• Cook the chicken and squash for 50 minutes
• basting the chicken at 10 minute intervals
• until the chicken is cooked through and there are no traces of pink
• and the squash is soft and sticky.
• To make the crispy chicken skin
• line a baking tray with baking paper. Pat the chicken skins dry
• place on the tray and drizzle with a little oil
• sprinkle over the white pepper and a teaspoon of the spice rub. Place another baking tray on top of the chicken skins and place in the oven for 25 minutes or until crispy.
• Serve the chicken with the squash wedges and the crispy chicken skin (if using).