Step 1

Remove the skin & the giblets (in case they come with the chicken) and discard them. In case you want to use the giblets, clean them, apply the leftover spice mix to them & bake them alongside the whole chicken. But remove all the skin, though you can keep the skin on the wings, if you want to.

Step 2

Clean the chicken thoroughly - inside and out.

Step 3

Pat it completely dry, using a paper towel.

Step 4

Make several gashes through the chicken (for the spices to absorb better).

Step 5

Make the first marinade (to tenderize the chicken), by mixing 5 tbsp lemon juice / extract with 2 tsp salt.

Step 6

Let the chicken sit in this lemon-salt mix for 20 mins.

Step 7

Make the second marinade (to spice the chicken) by mixing together 1/2 cup yogurt, 4 tbsp ginger garlic paste, 3 tbsp kashmiri chilli powder, 1 tbsp garam masala powder, 1 tbsp coriander powder, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1 tbsp tandoori masala powder, 1 tsp chaat masala powder, 1.5 tbsp cornflour, 2 tbsp kasoori methi powder, 1 tsp salt & 3 tbsp oil, till it forms a smooth paste.

Step 8

Dump out the excess liquid from the first marinade & apply the second (tandoori masala) marinade all over the chicken, especially inside the gashes made earlier.

Step 9

Set the chicken aside to marinate in the fridge for 18-24 hrs. If you are in a rush, you can marinate it for lesser time, but no less than 4-6 hrs.

Step 10

Once the chicken has marinated well, take it out of the fridge & set it on the counter to thaw for 30 mins, to let it come close to room temperature, before you put it in the oven.

Step 11

Before you heat the oven, re-arrange the oven racks so that the rack on which you will place the chicken is positioned right in the center of the oven, just so that there is enough place for the whole chicken to fit in comfortably, and everything cooks evenly.

Step 12

Pre-heat the oven to 425 F.

Step 13

Place the whole chicken face up on the roaster (which you will put in the oven to bake).

Step 14

Put a few drops of oil on the chicken, and then, using a tea strainer, sprinkle cornflour on the chicken.

Step 15

Place the chicken in the oven for 30 minutes.

Step 16

At the 30 minute mark - take the chicken out, flip it to the other side, and add a few drops of oil & sprinkle cornflour to this side.

Step 17

Put the chicken back in for another 30 minutes.

Step 18

At the 1 hr mark - take the chicken out, flip it back to the side you first put it in, and put the chicken back in the oven for another 15 minutes.

Step 19

This 15 minute mark is approximate, and only to be used as an estimate if there is no other way to check if the chicken is done.

Step 20

The best way to know if the chicken is done, is to insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh.  If the temperature reads 165 F to 170 F – the chicken is cooked.

Step 21

Once the chicken is done, set the roaster on the counter, and let it cool down a bit for 15-20 minutes, before you carve and serve.