Roasted Chicken With Pinapple- Curry Sauce

Roasted Chicken with Pineapple-Curry Sauce
Cooking the chicken breast side down ensures the lean breast meat stays moist and does not overcook. The sauce re-creates the taste of a high-fat coconut milk version but is made with creamy yogurt cheese as a base.

Ingredients
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/3 cup diagonally sliced peeled fresh lemongrass
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 (4-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 (5-pound) roasting chicken
3/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon olive oil
3/4 cup finely chopped Walla Walla or other sweet onion
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon thinly sliced peeled fresh lemongrass
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup thawed pineapple-orange juice concentrate, undiluted
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1/8 teaspoon coconut extract

Preparation
Place a colander in a 2-quart glass measure or medium bowl. Line colander with 4 layers of cheesecloth, allowing cheesecloth to extend over sides. Spoon yogurt into colander. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; refrigerate 12 hours. Spoon yogurt cheese into a medium bowl; discard liquid. Set yogurt cheese aside.
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine 1/3 cup lemongrass, 6 garlic cloves, and sliced ginger. Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Rinse chicken with cold water; pat dry. Trim excess fat. Spoon lemongrass mixture into body cavity. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat; rub salt under loosened skin. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken. Place chicken, breast side down, on a rack coated with cooking spray. Pour water into a shallow roasting pan; place rack in pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 55 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in meaty part of thigh registers 180°. Cover chicken loosely with foil; let stand 10 minutes. Discard skin. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and curry; cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemongrass, 1 tablespoon ginger, and 2 garlic cloves; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently. Stir in broth and concentrate; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 3 minutes. Strain mixture through a sieve over a bowl, reserving sauce. Discard solids. Stir fish sauce and coconut extract into yogurt cheese. Gradually add hot pineapple sauce, stirring constantly with a whisk. Cover and keep warm.
Place a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag inside a 2-cup glass measure. Pour pan drippings into bag; let stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top). Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Drain drippings into yogurt mixture, stopping before fat layer reaches opening; discard fat. Stir well. Serve chicken with pineapple-curry sauce.

Yield
6 servings (serving size: about 4 ounces chicken and about 1/3 cup sauce)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 260(21% from fat); FAT 6.2g (sat 1.5g,mono 2.2g,poly 1.4g); PROTEIN 41.4g; CHOLESTEROL 126mg; CALCIUM 68mg; SODIUM 738mg; FIBER 0.5g; IRON 2.4mg; CARBOHYDRATE 7.2g

Graham Kerr , Cooking Light, JANUARY 2005