Pinaupong Manok , Pinoy

Ingredients :

1 whole chicken, about a kilo in weight
2 whole onions
1 whole garlic
4 1″ chunks of ginger
5-6 peppercorns
1 bay leaf
2-3 c. of rock salt

For the dunking sauce :

1 tbsp. of finely minced ginger
1 tbsp. of finely minced garlic
1/2 c. of olive oil
salt to taste

procedure :

Peel the onions. Pierce the garlic in several places using a sharp, pointed knife. Rub the cavity of the chicken with rock salt. Stuff the cavity with the onions, garlic, ginger, peppercorns and bay leaf. Rub the skin with rock salt.

Make the bed of rock salt. Pour enough rock salt, about an inch high, into a large, deep stainless steel casserole. Place the chicken on the bed of salt, breast side down, making sure that no part of the chicken touches the metal. Cover the casserole and cook over medium-low heat for 1 hour. If using a pressure-cooker, cook for 20 minutes counting from the time the valve starts to whistle.

Do not uncover during cooking time.

Meanwhile, prepare the dunking sauce. Stir the minced garlic and ginger with the olive oil. Season with salt (add more or less depending on your preference).

When cooking time is up, insert a long, large fork into the chicken cavity to lift it without breaking. Transfer to a plate. Take about a tablespoonful of the olive oil from the sauce and brush the chicken all over.

Serve hot.