Chipotle-Lime Roast Chicken with Tomatillo Sauce

Chipotle-Lime Roast Chicken with Tomatillo Sauce

Tomatillos look like small green tomatoes in papery husks. Combining them with chipotle chile powder gives this chicken Mexican flair. Serve with lime wedges, rice, and beans.

1 (3 3/4-pound) whole roasting chicken (or chicken breast )
2 teaspoons butter, softened (smart balance)
1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1 teaspoon grated lime rind
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
4 garlic cloves, minced and divided

Cooking spray
8 ounces tomatillos
1 medium onion, quartered
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, undrained
Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°.
Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken; trim excess fat. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breasts and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.
Combine butter, chile powder, rind, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cumin, and 1 garlic clove in a small bowl. Rub seasoning mixture under loosened skin and over breasts and drumsticks. Tie ends of legs together with twine. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken. Place chicken, breast side up, on a rack coated with cooking spray; place rack in roasting pan.
Discard husks and stems from tomatillos; cut into quarters. Arrange tomatillos and onion evenly around chicken. Bake at 375° for 40 minutes.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.
Place tomatillos and onion in a food processor. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 3 garlic cloves, cilantro, juice, and chiles; process until smooth.
Remove skin from chicken; discard. Carve chicken, and serve with sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 5 ounces meat and about 1/2 cup sauce)CALORIES 299(36% from fat); FAT 12.1g (sat 3.9g,mono 4.1g,poly 2.5g); PROTEIN 36.9g; CHOLESTEROL 111mg; CALCIUM 51mg; SODIUM 694mg; FIBER 2.4g; IRON 2.9mg; CARBOHYDRATE 9.6g Cooking Light, MAY 2006