Whole Roasted Chicken in Clay Pot with Almonds, Dates and Lemons

Name: Whole Roasted Chicken in Clay Pot with Almonds, Dates and Lemons
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 6-8 shallots — peeled and quartered; 1/3 lb Barhi or Medjool dates — pitted; 6 Meyer lemons — quartered; 2 cloves garlic — peeled and minced; One 4-5 lb chicken or two 3 lb chickens; Juice of 1 orange; 1 tablespoon honey; 2/3 cup whole almonds; Coarse sea salt and black pepper

By Pascale Beale

Updated July 2026

ChickenDairy-FreeMediterraneanPoultryRoasted

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Whole Roasted Chicken in Clay Pot with Almonds, Dates and Lemons

Photography by Pascale's Kitchen Studio

Total Time 1 hour, 40 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 90 minutes

I received my clay pot as a gift. I’ll be honest and tell you that it sat, collecting dust, for a very long time. I mistakenly thought that it would be a chore to use. Finally, prompted by another article raving about this cooking method, I took the plunge. Ah, what a discovery! Now, close to thirty years later, my very dependable clay pot (yes, the same one) has produced many a succulent meal. Chicken cooked this way melts in your mouth. The combination of the lemons with the sweetness of the dates and the crunch of the almonds is one of my favorites. Don’t wait to use your clay pot!

Preparation

1
Do not pre-heat oven. Ensure that your clay pot can sit in the oven with the lid on. You may have to lower the top rack so that it will fit properly. Soak a large unglazed clay pot (top and bottom) in water for 15 minutes; drain.
2
Put the shallots, dates, lemons and garlic in the bottom of the clay pot. Rest the chicken, breast side down, on top of the lemons. Whisk together the honey and orange juice with a pinch of salt and 8-10 grinds of fresh black pepper and then pour over of the chicken. Cover with the clay top and place the pot on the center rack of a cold oven.
3
Set the oven to 450 degrees and cook for 45 minutes.
4
Remove from the oven. Lift the lid cautiously, avoiding the steam. Turn the chicken breast side up. Add the almonds, replace the lid, and cook for an additional 40 minutes.
5
Remove the clay pot from the oven and rest it on a wooden surface, cork trivet or folded kitchen towel. A cold surface may cause the clay pot to crack.
6
Serve the chicken with the lemons and dates. This is excellent served with sautéed greens.

This recipe is featured in Les Fruits: Sweet and Savory Recipes From The Market Table — view the book →

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Whole Roasted Chicken in Clay Pot with Almonds, Dates and Lemons

Preparation

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