British Poussins - or spring chickens - offer a new and exciting way of serving poultry. Poussins are mouthwatering, succulent and tasty, and what's more, they're simple and easy to cook too. Poussin is becoming a great favorite with everyone interested in healthy eating; the lean meat is high in protein and low in fat and weight watchers will appreciate the low calorie count, just 169 calories per 100g raw weight.

One bird - about 400g - 550g / 14 - 20oz in weight - simply roasted, provides a substantial meal for a single person, or it can be shared by two... with no left overs. Poussins taste great in ethnic dishes, delicious on barbeques and look spectacular at dinner parties.

Set against free-range, corn-fed and standard broiler chickens, Poussin scored 9 out of 10 for flavour and was judged best for entertaining. It was also popular with the judges for its moist texture and good roasted smell. A Poussin is a four to six-week-old chicken that usually weighs between 14 oz/400g and 20oz/550g. Allow one small Poussin per person or a large Poussin for two people.

Succulent to taste and easy to prepare, as with all chicken it is high in protein but Poussin are much leaner. Poussin are up to 15% lower in fat - and 10% lower in calories than ordinary chicken (Poussin has approximately 169 calories per 100 gms uncooked weight). Wonderfully tender, Poussin can be bought whole or Spatchcocked (cut in half and flattened), or glazed with butter and herbs for barbecues or grilling. The meat on a Poussin leg and thigh is much lighter in colour and texture than ordinary chicken.

The simplest way of cooking Poussin is roasting for just 40 minutes. But it can be grilled, barbecued, fried or casseroled with a tantalising selection of different flavours (see recipes for Poussin). The plump bird looks extra special and is popular with food lovers - suiting today's increasing numbers of single householders. Poussin are priced from only £1.75 for a whole bird, and spatchcocked from £2.25 each. It took the food loving French to come up with a word for a bird that offers something more stylish than standard chicken. But of course you can get British Poussin from most outlets of major retailers throughout the UK.These include:
Selected Marks & Spencer
Tesco
Sainsbury
Safeway
Waitrose
Asda
Somerfield
Morrisons
CWS and CRS

How Poussin are produced

Poussin are reared in large ventilated barns and are fed on a nourishing cereal-based diet. They have plenty of room to move about freely on a deep litter of wood chips and chopped straw for warmth and comfort. Flocks are monitored by trained staff and are grown under veterinary control to comply with animal welfare guidelines. The birds are processed according to the highest EEC standards in animal welfare and hygiene, utilising highly modernised production plant. More than 7 million British Poussin are produced each year, and about 20% come Spatchcocked or flattened for ease of cooking.

To Spatchcock a poussin

This is a traditional 18th century method where the backbone is removed, the breastbone flattened out and secured with skewers to make it easier to cook and eat. Using sturdy kitchen scissors or poultry shears simply cut along each side of the backbone and remove it. Turn the Poussin over and press down firmly to break the breastbone to flatten. The Spatchcock can be secured by pushing a skewer diagonally through the leg, breast and wing and repeating on the other side. Spatchcocking helps the Poussin cook evenly under a higher heat making it ideal for grilling or cooking on a barbecue.

For more examples, visit www.youyumyum.com