Preparation time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 1 ¼ hours
To serve: 4-6

You will need
3 lb. chicken, oven ready
salt
1 oz. butter
8 sprigs fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon oil
1 ½ oz. powdered gelatine
1 ½ pints (U.S. 3 ¾ cups) good chicken stock or canned consommé
few drops gravy browning, if necessary
4-5 tablespoons Madeira or port

Dry the chicken, sprinkle inside liberally with salt and insert a nut of butter and 3 sprigs fresh tarragon. Heat the remaining butter and the oil in a flameproof casserole and brown chicken on all sides. This will take about 12-15 minutes. Cover and cook in pre-heated moderate oven (350° F. or Gas Mark 4) for 1 hour. Remove chicken and set aside until absolutely cold.

Sprinkle the powdered gelatine into the stock or consommé and heat until gently dissolved. Add 3 sprigs tarragon, and if necessary a few drops of browning to give the stock a light brown colour. Cover and leave to stand for 15 minutes. Check seasoning, add Madeira or port to taste, then strain jelly through several thicknesses of muslin. Pour ⅛-inch layer of jelly into the serving dish and leave to set. Carve the chicken and arrange the pieces on the jelly. Chill remaining jelly and stir over ice until almost set, but still fluid, then spoon over chicken.

Repeat at intervals as necessary and arrange a decoration of tarragon leaves before the final coating.

Pour remaining jelly into a shallow tin and when set cut into shapes, or chop, to garnish the edge of the dish.

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© Shufunotomo Co., Ltd., Japan 1968 English text © The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd., 1968