Spatchcock

‘Indian mode and sea fashion’ adds the Victorian colonel’s wife from whose cookbook this particular recipe comes.

The word spatchcock comes from the dish - a happy rooster one minute and a rather flat-looking grilled chicken the next - all done with great despatch. This simple recipe was a favourite with army officers sent to India by sea, which used to entail several weeks’ long voyage. Coops of chickens were kept on board and were a great treat for the bored passengers when despat