Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the star anise and peppercorns; cook, stirring, until toasted, about 10 seconds. Add the cilantro, scallions and garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add the soy sauce mixture and simmer over medium heat until slightly reduced, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool, then add the chicken and toss. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.

Transfer the chicken to a rack set in a roasting pan (reserve the marinade). Refrigerate the chicken, uncovered, about 3 hours to dry out the skin.

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 400 degrees F. Pour 1/4 inch of water and the reserved marinade into the roasting pan. Roast the chicken 20 minutes. Baste with the pan juices, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue roasting until the skin is glazed and a thermometer inserted into a breast registers 160 degrees F, 20 to 25 more minutes. Transfer the chicken (on the rack) to a board. Pour the pan juices into a skillet; simmer over medium-high heat until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Drizzle over the chicken.

Photographs by Con Poulos