Hen marylands. It’s like roast rooster – with out the mess of carving up a complete rooster! Slather in herb & garlic butter then bake till golden. Serve with potato gratin or creamy mash with garlic sautéed inexperienced beans for the right meal!
Hen marylands (aka rooster leg quarters)
Hen maryland is a massively underrated economical reduce of rooster. I inform individuals it’s like having roast rooster – with out the mess of carving up a complete rooster! A considerable piece of meat with loads of golden pores and skin, juicier* than drumsticks and thighs, and tremendous flavourful.
It’s practically unimaginable to mess up because you don’t have to fret about exact roasting time to forestall dry, bland breast. As a result of this reduce doesn’t embody rooster breast! Why aren’t we cooking rooster marylands on a regular basis??!!
* Why it’s juicier – as a result of it’s a bigger single piece of bone-in meat. Which implies much less juice-escaping-crevices by meat weight = juicier meat.
What’s a rooster maryland – to you?
Because it seems, rooster marylands means various things in numerous international locations. Right here in Australia, it refers to a reduce which is a rooster leg with the thigh hooked up, pictured beneath. It’s known as complete rooster leg quarters within the States and simply rooster legs within the UK. I do know it’s complicated, however at the very least the reduce is definitely identifiable!
Within the States, “Hen Maryland” or “Maryland Hen” refers to a dish originating from the state of Maryland comprised of fried rooster with creamy gravy. This instantly bought added to my ever-growing Checklist of Issues To Make.
Within the UK, “Hen Maryland” refers to a retro Chinese language fried rooster dish served with a banana fritter, corn fritter and bacon.
This didn’t get added to my Checklist of Issues To Make! 😂
PS I put this little desk collectively simply to clear up the confusion in my head. Although it could be helpful to you too. 🙂
| Hen reduce names | Australia | US | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hen maryland (leg + thigh hooked up – at present’s recipe) |
Hen maryland | Hen leg quarters | Hen legs |
| Hen drumsticks (ie no thigh hooked up) |
Hen leg or drumsticks | Hen leg or drumsticks | Hen drumsticks |
Substances you want
Right this moment, we’re roasting this rooster slathered in a herb and garlic butter. Right here’s what you want for the butter – see above for the picture and discuss in regards to the rooster marylands!
Herb & garlic butter
-
Thyme and rosemary – Recent is finest, for max flavour influence. Nevertheless, dried will work in its place.
-
Garlic – Recent and solely contemporary! Jarred stuff simply doesn’t evaluate – it’s bitter and doesn’t have actual garlic flavour.
-
Unsalted butter – I favor utilizing unsalted so I can management the quantity of salt. Nevertheless, in the event you solely have salted it is going to work too, simply halve the salt.
-
White wine – Serves a triple function: retains the underside of the rooster moist because it roasts, infuses flavour into the flesh, and makes the juices within the roasting pan so tasty it’s like liquid gold. All that flavour from the herb & garlic butter mingling with the rooster juices plus the white wine = sauce perfection!
Substitute with rooster inventory/broth, low sodium or only a splash of water (you’ll find yourself with much less sauce however don’t fear, there’s loads of flavour within the rooster itself!).
Methods to make Herb & Garlic Butter Hen Marylands
This recipe requires the herb & garlic butter to be slathered beneath the pores and skin. Don’t fear, it’s not arduous – entry is simple with this reduce of rooster! Additionally, whereas I’ve used marylands right here, this recipe can be terrific made with bone-in thighs (use 8).
-
Combine softened butter with garlic, herbs and salt. Use a garlic press or microplane to finely grate the garlic and make it “juicy” so it mixes by way of the butter, for higher garlic flavour. (Should you don’t have one, very finely chop it).
-
Loosen the pores and skin utilizing a tablespoon. The spoon hugs the curves of the rooster flesh so it gained’t pierce the pores and skin. Entry the pores and skin from the straight fringe of the thigh, as pictured above, and transfer the spoon round to create butter pockets (together with on the drumstick).
-
Slather butter beneath the pores and skin. It’s straightforward, I promise – carry pores and skin, stuff butter beneath then unfold by urgent/pushing on the pores and skin. No have to be precise right here, the butter melts and runs in all places anyway. Even in the event you unfold a wad within the center that’ll do the trick.
How a lot butter the place – Put about 75% of the butter beneath the pores and skin. Then solely a small quantity (~5% ) on the flesh (underside), then the rest on the pores and skin. Why? As a result of the flesh aspect goes to get tons of flavour from roasting within the wine and the butter/rooster juices run-off. It doesn’t want additional butter assist!
-
Roast for 50 minutes – Put the rooster in a baking dish pores and skin aspect up. Pour the wine round then roast for 50 minutes.
Begin off excessive at 220°C/425°F (200°C fan) for 10 minutes to get the pores and skin browning, then on a barely decrease 200°C /400°F (180°C fan) for 40 minutes or till the pores and skin is golden and the rooster is cooked.
-
Baste twice on the 30 minute and 40 minute mark (ie spoon pan juices over the rooster pores and skin).
-
Relaxation for five minutes earlier than serving, utilizing the juices within the roasting pan because the sauce. That stuff is pure gold!!
Shut up of stated golden roasting juices:
What to serve on the aspect
I served this with roasted greens and a rocket/arugula tossed with my On a regular basis Dressing. If I used to be making for firm, I’d go for a potato gratin (make it upfront then reheat it whereas the rooster is roasting – permit an additional 10 minutes for the rooster roasting time) or Lemon Potato Salad (served heat) for one thing a little bit brisker.
I may see a pile of Sautéed Inexperienced Beans with Garlic with Creamy Buttery Mashed Potato on the aspect. Or for a easy choice, simply steam greens of alternative (peas, carrots, broccoli) then toss with French Dressing and serve with a hunk of bread on the aspect (for plate mopping).
Like to know what you’d serve this with for firm. I’m having a cocktail party this weekend – I used to be going to do a Mexican Fiesta however I’m anticipating some not-so-subtle requests for at present’s dish as an alternative! – Nagi x
Prompt sides
Watch the right way to make it
Hungry for extra? Subscribe to my e-newsletter and comply with alongside on Fb, Pinterest and Instagram for the entire newest updates.
Herb & Garlic Butter Hen Marylands (rooster leg quarters)
Prep: 10 minutes
Prepare dinner: 50 minutes
Mains
Western
Servings4 marylands
Faucet or hover to scale
Directions
-
Preheat oven to 220°C/425°F (200°C fan).
-
Combine Herb & Garlic Butter components till mixed.
-
Butter rooster – Use an the wrong way up tablespoon to loosen the rooster pores and skin from the flesh on the thigh and many of the leg (Be aware 4). Smear 80% of the butter beneath the pores and skin, only a small quantity (~5%) on the underside (flesh aspect) then the rest on high of the pores and skin. (The flesh aspect will get a number of flavour from the pan juices).
-
Put rooster in roasting pan, pores and skin aspect up. Sprinkle pores and skin with the 1/2 tsp salt. Pour wine round rooster.
-
Roast 50 minutes – Roast 10 minutes to get the pores and skin going. Then cut back the warmth to 200°C /400°F (180°C fan) and roast for an extra 40 minutes, basting each 10 minutes from the 20 minute mark onwards.
-
Relaxation & serve – Take away from oven. Relaxation 10 minutes then serve with the garlic-herb-butter pan juices because the sauce!
Recipe Notes:
Various – 8 x pores and skin on, bone in thighs.
2. Garlic – Or finely grated utilizing microplane or very finely minced utilizing knife. We wish the juicy minced garlic to combine seamlessly into the butter for max garlic flavour.
3. Recent herbs actually ship within the flavour division however each could be substituted with 1 1/2 tsp dried herbs (every). Nonetheless chop them, to launch flavour.
4. Spoon is good for this job as the form of the spoon hugs the curves of the rooster so the spoon gained’t pierce the pores and skin. See video and step images of assist to do that step.
Leftovers will hold for 3 – 4 days within the fridge.
Diet per Maryland. 1 Maryland is a beneficiant serving for somebody with a hearty urge for food.
Diet Info:
Energy: 659cal (33%)Carbohydrates: 2g (1%)Protein: 35g (70%)Fats: 54g (83%)Saturated Fats: 22g (138%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 8gMonounsaturated Fats: 19gTrans Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 253mg (84%)Sodium: 911mg (40%)Potassium: 474mg (14%)Fiber: 0.2g (1%)Sugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 871IU (17%)Vitamin C: 3mg (4%)Calcium: 38mg (4%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Lifetime of Dozer
Handed out from exhaustion after snuffling round unsuccessfully in somebody’s backpack for treats. (Or….maybe not unsuccessful!)
