Thai red curry pot roast chicken

De-chill & salt chicken – Take the chicken out of the fridge 1 hour prior. Pat dry then sprinkle with the salt.
Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F (180°C fan).
Sauté curry paste – Use a large, oven-proof pot with a lid. Heat oil on medium high heat. Cook curry paste, garlic, ginger and lemongrass for 2 minutes. This step substantially improves the flavour of store bought curry paste.
Sauce – Add chicken stock, stir, then simmer rapidly for 3 minutes to reduce by half. Stir in coconut cream, hand-crushed kaffir lime leaves, sugar and fish sauce.
Place chicken into the sauce. Spoon over sauce. Surround with potatoes.
Bake 1 hour – Place the lid on and bake for 40 minutes. Remove lid spoon sauce over chicken (ie. baste). Turn the oven up to 220°C/425°F (200°C fan). Bake uncovered for 10 minutes, baste, bake another 10 minutes.
Beans, then bake 10 minutes – Push beans into the sauce (wherever they fit!). Baste again then bake for a final 10 minutes (no lid).
Rest 10 minutes – Remove chicken onto a plate (Note 7). Rest 10 minutes. Put lid on pot to keep sauce warm.
Serving – Carve chicken, place on platter. Stir basil leaves into sauce. Pour/spoon sauce, potatoes and beans over chicken. Garnish with chilli and coriander, if desired. Serve with jasmine rice!

Ingredient :

1.8 kg/ 3.6 lb whole chicken
1 tsp cooking/kosher salt
3 tbsp vegetable oil
115g/ 4 oz (1/2 cup) Thai red curry paste (Maesri recommended, Note 1)
2 large garlic cloves , finely grated (Note 2)
2 tsp fresh ginger , finely grated (Note 2)
2 tsp fresh lemongrass , finely grated, white / pale green part only (Note 2)
1 cup chicken stock/broth , low sodium
400 ml/ 14 oz coconut cream (Note 3)
6 kaffir lime leaves , crushed in hand (Note 4)
1 tbsp white sugar
2 tsp fish sauce
600g/ 1.2lb small potatoes (12 or so), skin on (Note 5)
120g/ 4oz green beans , trimmed and cut in half
15 Thai basil leaves , or more! (sub ordinary Italian basil, Note 6)
Serving + optional garnishes:
Jasmine rice
Red chilli , finely sliced
Coriander / cilantro leaves