Herby chicken with root vegetables & lemon honey sauce

Simple and delicious - crunchy roast chicken, small-cut veggies and a lovely light lemon sauce. Do try this. 

The veggies are extra delicious when they're cut pretty small. And the sauce brings the whole meal together, so don't skip that - it's truly a winner.

Herby chicken with root vegetables & lemon sauce

1 fresh chicken
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp thyme

marinade:
1 tsp sambal oelek (chili paste)
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp chili sauce (I used Heinz)

veggies:
4 carrots
4 large potatoes
2 parsnips
2 red onions
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp oregano
lemon zest
salt

lemon honey sauce:
1 lemon - zest and juice
200 ml crème fraiche
salt
black pepper
1 tsp runny honey

Start with the sauce. Zest the lemon, and use half for the sauce - half for the veggies, later on. Stir with the creme fraiche and the juice from the lemon. SAVE THE SQUEEZED-OUT LEMON! Season with a little salt and pepper, and add a drizzle of honey. Place in the fridge while you cook the rest of the meal.

For the chicken, mix together the butter with the dried herbs. Try to spread this under the skin of the chicken, as well as possible. Whisk together the marinade, and brush half onto the chicken. (save the rest for later!) Get those reserved squeezed-out lemon halves and stuff into the chicken. Place the chicken in a large roasting tin and roast for 10 minutes at 200°C.

Meanwhile, prep the veggies. Peel and cut the carrots, potatoes and parsnips into dice. Peel the onions and cut into thin wedges. Mix and place all around the chicken. Drizzle with olive oil, the dried herbs and salt, and the reserved lemon zest. Brush the chicken with the rest of the marinade.

Place the whole thing back in the oven for about 40 minutes. Check periodically - the chicken might need to be covered with foil to prevent it from becoming too dark, and the veggies will benefit from some tossing.

When the vegetables are soft and roasted, and the chicken is cooked through - you're all done. Serve with the Lemon-Honey sauce.