Roast Chicken With Apricot Stuffing

Put 1/3 cup olive oil, the garlic, 1 tablespoon marjoram, the lemon zest and juice, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a mini food processor and pulse to make a paste. Loosen the chicken skin with your fingers. Rub the paste under and over the skin and inside the cavity.

Put the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the red onion, celery and dried apricots and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

Add the bread and parsley and cook, stirring, until combined, about 2 minutes.

Add the broth, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Fill the chicken cavity with the stuffing, tie the legs together with twine and put breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan; tuck the wings underneath. Roast until the skin begins to brown, about 30 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue roasting until deep golden brown, about 1 more hour. (Cover loosely with foil if it's browning too quickly.)

Whisk the preserves and vinegar in a small bowl; brush on the chicken and continue roasting until the skin is crisp and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about 20 more minutes.

Let rest 10 minutes before carving.

Garnish with marjoram sprigs.

Photograph by Con Poulos