Crossword Genius

Pagan way to cook chicken (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

heathen

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'pagan' is the definition.
(I know that pagan can be written as Heathen)

'cook chicken' is the wordplay.
'cook' becomes 'heat' (I've seen this before).
'chicken' becomes 'hen' (hen is a kind of chicken).
'heat'+'hen'='HEATHEN'

'way to' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for heathen that I've seen before include "One who doesn't acknowledge your god" , "Godless person" , "Barbaric" , "Unbeliever" , "Infidel, pagan" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.
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