Name: Cheesymite chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 110 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2kg chicken; 1 soft white bread roll, torn into pieces; 1 cup vintage tasty cheese, grated; 100g unsalted butter; 50g Vegemite; 1 tsp dried Italian herbs; 8 carrots, chopped; 12 eschalots, halved; 6 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil; Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season; 75g maple syrup; 1 tsp red wine vinegar; 4 cups baby spinach leaves

Cheesymite chicken

A very Aussie spin on the traditional Christmas turkey.

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Serves 6

Prep

20M

Cook

1H 30M

Total

1H 50M

Skip to Recipe

This year Ed’s enlisting Charlie to help him make a very Aussie spin on the traditional Christmas turkey. His Cheesymite chicken is made with a vegemite, cheese and bread stuffing…and not only is it delicious, it’s budget-friendly, too. Now he’s just got to convince Charlie to try it.

Ingredients

2kg chicken

1 soft white bread roll, torn into pieces

1 cup vintage tasty cheese, grated

100g unsalted butter

50g Vegemite

1 tsp dried Italian herbs

8 carrots, chopped

12 eschalots, halved

6 cloves garlic, chopped

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season

75g maple syrup

1 tsp red wine vinegar

4 cups baby spinach leaves

Method

Preheat oven to 200°C fan-forced (220°C conventional).
Pat chicken dry inside and out with paper towel. Mix bread and cheese in a bowl. Melt half of the butter and Vegemite in a small saucepan on medium heat. Add to bread mixture with Italian herbs and stir to combine.

Spoon stuffing into chicken cavity, then tie legs with kitchen string. Arrange in a roasting pan with carrot, eschalot and garlic. Drizzle with oil and season. Bake for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, put maple syrup, vinegar and remaining butter in a small saucepan on medium heat, until butter is melted. Baste chicken with mixture at regular intervals as it bakes for a further 1 hour. Serve with spinach.

Cheesymite chicken — *(Credit: Rob Palmer)*

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Fast Ed Chef

'Fast' Ed Halmagyi is one of Australia’s best-loved TV chefs and food authors. For over a decade, Ed has appeared on television and radio, in newspapers, magazines and books.

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