Method

You don’t need to do much to it; just add salt and pepper and put it into an oven.

Preheat the oven to its highest setting and when it’s hot put it in for 20 minutes then reduce the heat to 180 in an electric oven (Gas mark 4) or 160 in a fan oven and cook it for 20 minutes per pound (450g). That’s it.

A nicer variation is to separate the skin at the open end from the breast - just slide your finger or a spoon into a gap you can make but don't tear teh skin. Then push butter flavoured with garlic and/or herbs into the gap. Then as it cooks it will baste the breast and gives it a really lovely flavour.

Ingredients

• A chicken, obviously
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: Butter, herbs, garlic, lemon zest, whatever you like