This is our traditional Easter meal. It is SO DELICIOUS that any guest who's ever celebrated Easter with us is blown away. The recipe comes from our director's many trips to a little town in former Yugoslavia, (Medjugorje). It was originally called "Yugoslavian Chicken," but after the war, the area split into Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina, so not even the locals like to use that name any more! The families that hosted him in the village prepared this meal for him and you could say that it was "love at first bite." Everyone who has eaten it with us would agree. We look forward to it every year. With Old Century Meats' chicken, it's unmatchable.
(We've actually never shared these steps, so if you spread it, please credit it back to us.)
You will need a SAČ, which our director and his wife have carried back from Croatia, but we have found them on-line here: https://www.eurofooddeals.com/product/coal-owen-sac-peka/ , and to make it the way they make it in Croatia, you will need "Podravka Vegeta All-Purpose Seasoning" which can be found on-line in multiple places as well as specialty grocers.
You will need: LOVE...olive oil, sliced potatoes, sliced onions, sliced carrots, chicken legs, chicken thighs, thick cut bacon, "Vegeta" and black pepper
Prepare a bed of potatoes, onions and carrots about an inch thick in the round greased SAČ pan. Season the potatoes, onions and carrots with "Vegeta" and black pepper. Sprinkle lightly with olive oil. Place Old Century Meats chicken legs and thighs in a beautiful pattern on top of the potatoes, carrots and onions, with the fat part of the legs rotating with the thin part of the legs and the thighs in the center of the circle. Season the chicken with "Vegeta" and black pepper. Weave thick-cut bacon in between the chicken pieces as a ribbon. (Quantities vary depending on the size of the pan you have! You need to fill the pan with the potatoes, onions, carrots, chicken and bacon as the pictures show.)
Basic Cooking Steps (Follow the Images)
1.) Make a fire with wood and charcoal an hour or so before cooking.
2.) Place the lids in the fire.
3.) Place the prepared dish on its base.
4.) Make sure that you have some hot gray coals ready.
5.) Place the hot lid on the pan.
6.) Place the ring on the lid.
7.) Add coals below the base.
8.) Add coals to the lid. The ring holds the coals in place. Do not place too many coals on top.
9.) Enjoy your friends, family and fellowship while the pan cooks. Lift the lid often checking the status of the raw meat. (It usually takes between 1 to 1 1/2 hours.)
10.) When the bacon is crispy and the chicken is cooked through with beautiful golden crusts, carefully remove the lid and then the pan from its stand with large quality hot pads. Your guests' mouths will be watering as you place the pan on your serving spot and you will have made a lasting flavor memory. Enjoy...and call us if you need more specific tips! 205.983.3280.