Ingredients
1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
3 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
6 tablespoons ghee
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon saffron threads
Safflower oil, for grill
Preparation
To spatchcock a chicken, cut along each side of the backbone with shears. Remove the backbone and reserve it for stock (it can be frozen up to 3 months). Turn chicken breast-side up; flatten it with your palm.
In a small bowl, combine mint, cilantro, 3 tablespoons ghee, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon saffron. Carefully loosen skin from breasts and thighs with your fingers and rub ghee mixture under skin. Place chicken on a plate, cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high. Brush grill with oil to prevent sticking. Rub chicken with remaining 3 tablespoons ghee and season with remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon saffron. Reduce heat to medium.
Grill the chicken, skin-side down, for 20 minutes. For more even cooking, the chicken can be weighted with a foil-covered brick, if desired. Flip chicken and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and cook until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part, without touching the bone, registers 165 degrees, 20 to 25 minutes more.
Transfer to a plate, cover, and let rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.
