Piri piri, a chili brought by Portuguese explorers from America and cultivated in Africa, gave rise to this Portuguese-African fusion dish that emerged in Mozambique and Angola, today popular throughout the world.
International
Piri Piri Chicken
Traditional grilled Mozambican piri piri chicken, authentic African recipe step by step.
- Mozambique
- Main course
- High protein
- easy
30 min
Tiempo de Preparación
4
Servings
Nutrición por ración
- Calories 440 kcal
- Protein 36 g
- Carbohydrates 6 g
- Fat 30 g
Story behind the dish
Preparation
Piri Piri Chicken is a Mozambican preparation with easy difficulty. Reserve about 70 minutes in total (30 for mise en place and preparation, 40 for cooking). Follow the 6 phases in order: each step indicates what to do, what to observe and, when applicable, the time or level of fire.
Before you start
- Have ready: 1 whole chicken opened in butterfly.
- Have ready: 8 piri piri chillies (or red chilli).
- Have ready: 4 cloves of garlic.
- Have ready: 2 tablespoons of paprika.
- Have ready: Juice of 2 lemons.
- Salt, oil and spices measured and within reach.
- Clean utensils, board and clear work surface.
-
Crush the piri piri chiles with garlic
Blend the piri piri chiles with garlic, paprika, lemon juice, oil, oregano and salt until you obtain a homogeneous sauce. Taste before serving: the balance between salt, acidity and fat defines the final result. Watch the exact point indicated; An extra minute can alter the result. Taste before serving: the balance between salt, acidity and fat defines the final result.Watch the exact point indicated; An extra minute can alter the result.
Taste before serving: the balance between salt, acidity and fat defines the final result.
-
Reserve half of the sauce to serve and marinate the chicken with the…
Reserve half of the sauce for serving and marinate the chicken with the other half for at least 3 hours (ideally overnight). Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step. Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step.
Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step.
-
Preheat grill or oven to medium-high heat
Preheat grill or oven to medium-high heat. Preheat the oven well in advance so that the temperature is stable from the first minute. Preheat the oven well in advance so that the temperature is stable from the first minute.
Preheat the oven well in advance so that the temperature is stable from the first minute.
-
Roast the open-butterfly chicken over indirect heat
Roast the butterflied chicken over indirect heat, skin side up first, 30-35 minutes. Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step. Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step.
Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step.
-
Brush with reserved sauce several times during cooking.
Brush with reserved sauce several times during cooking. Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step. Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step.
Go slowly and confirm texture, aroma and color before moving to the next step.
-
Finish over direct heat for a few minutes to brown the skin well.
Finish over direct heat for a few minutes to brown the skin well, serve with the rest of the piri piri sauce separately. Look for a uniform golden color; The seal concentrates flavor and prevents it from releasing too much liquid later. Look for a uniform golden color; The seal concentrates flavor and prevents it from releasing too much liquid later.
Look for a uniform golden color; The seal concentrates flavor and prevents it from releasing too much liquid later.
Chef's tips
- Spatchcocking the chicken allows for more even and faster cooking on the grill.
- Adjust the amount of piri piri chili according to your tolerance to spiciness, traditionally it is a very spicy dish.
Variations
- Baked version without grill.
- Prawn piri piri.
Community
Kitchen conversations
Share how it turned out, ask questions, or reply to other cooks.
Be the first to share your experience with this recipe.