6 Points Plus - Roast Chicken With Mint Cilantro Pesto Recipe

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken; trim excess fat.
3. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breasts and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.
4. Combine mint leaves and the next 6 ingredients (through garlic) in a food processor, and process until finely ground.
5. Rub herb mixture under loosened skin and over breasts and drumsticks.
6. Tie ends of legs together with twine.
7. Lift wing tips up and over back, and tuck under chicken.
8. Place the chicken, breast side up, on a rack coated with cooking spray, and place rack in a roasting pan.
9. Bake at 375° for 40 minutes.
10. Increase oven temperature to 450°, and bake an additional 20 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the meaty part of thigh registers 170°. Remove chicken from pan; let stand 15 minutes.
11. Remove skin from chicken; discard.
12. Carve chicken, and serve immediately.