Peri Peri Chicken
Peri Peri Chicken is a delicious and flavorful dish. I’ve had the pleasure of giving you an amazing recipe for this mouth-watering dish, and I can confidently say that it’s a must-try for anyone who loves spicy and bold flavors.
Peri Peri Chicken is a Portuguese dish that has its roots in Africa, specifically in Angola and Mozambique. The chef marinates chicken in a blend of fiery spices, which includes bird’s eye chili, paprika, garlic, and lemon juice. After that, they grill or roast the chicken until it becomes juicy and tender, while also developing a crispy skin that’s bursting with flavor.
One of the best things about Peri Peri Chicken is that it can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. You can have it on its own as a main dish, serve it with a side of rice and vegetables, or even use it as a filling for sandwiches and wraps. And because it’s so versatile, it’s a great option for casual and formal occasions.
If you’re a fan of spicy food, then Peri Peri Chicken is definitely a dish you don’t want to miss. Its bold and complex flavor profile is sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. “Why not try it yourself and see why it has become such a popular dish around the world?”
Ingredients Used in Peri Peri Chicken
- FOR THE PERI PERI CHICKEN
- Peri peri chicken enthusiasts can use any chicken cut, be it a whole chicken, chicken wings, or chicken breasts, to make their beloved dish.
- Smoked paprika 1 tsp
- garlic powder 1 tsp
- Salt and pepper according to taste
- FOR THE PERI PERI MARINADE INGREDIENTS
- Chopped red chilies 1 pound – African Bird’s Eye peppers are traditional, but you can sub with red peppers available to you
- Garlic chopped 4 clove
- Smoked paprika 1 tsp
- Chopped cilantro 1/2 cup
- Chopped basil 1/4 cup
- Olive oil or vegetable oil 1/2 cup
- lemon juice 2 tsp
- Salt according to taste (and black pepper, optional)
- Honey 1 tsp (optional)
- FOR SERVING: Spicy chili flakes, chopped parsley
How To Make Peri Peri Chicken
- To prepare the peri peri chicken, start by drying the chicken with a paper towel, and then rubbing them with a mixture of paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cover the chicken and set them aside.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Next, make the peri peri sauce by adding peppers, garlic, paprika, cilantro, and basil to a food processor, and processing the ingredients until well mixed.
- While still processing the mixture, gradually pour in the olive oil until it thickens to the desired consistency.
- Incorporate the lemon juice into the sauce and taste it to determine if you need to add more salt.
- To evenly coat the chicken, pour half of the peri peri sauce over it and toss until it is nicely coated.
- After rubbing the chicken with paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour to enhance the flavor. For a more intense and flavorful experience, marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours. The longer you marinate, the deeper the flavors will penetrate into the meat. It’s all about finding the perfect balance between time and taste!
- Once you’ve covered the chicken with the sauce, it’s time to bake it in the oven.
- I usually bake my chicken at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for around 35-40 minutes until it’s cooked through. To ensure that it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, I rely on my ThermoPop meat thermometer from ThermoWorks to check it. As cooking times can vary, it’s always important to keep an eye on your temperatures and adjust as necessary. If you’re looking for a reliable meat thermometer, I highly recommend the ThermoPop!
- You can bake the chicken in the oven by placing them in an oven-proof dish with peeled and quartered potatoes. Season the potatoes with salt, paprika, and olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- After cooking the chicken, toss them in the remaining peri sauce for an extra kick of flavor.
- Finally, sprinkle with fresh herbs and spicy chili flakes before serving.
Health Benefits of Peri Peri Chicken
What are the health benefits of this dish? Peri peri peppers or malagueta chilies contain the active compound capsaicin, which gives them their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-cancer properties. Additionally, peri peri sauce is a good source of vitamins A, B, and C, which are essential vitamins for maintaining a healthy body. These vitamins play important roles in improving cognitive function, reducing blood pressure, and providing relief from nasal congestion.
When it comes to the nutrition of peri-peri chicken, it is a good option for those who want to watch their calorie intake. Boneless chicken thigh ordered “plain…ish” contains 140 calories, 9g fat, 2.5g saturated fat, 0g carbohydrate, 13g protein, and 370mg sodium. Although the chicken is grilled with its skin, you can reduce the calorie and fat intake by removing the skin.
Overall, peri peri chicken is not only a delicious dish but also a healthy
FAQs
Peri peri chicken has a spicy and tangy flavor, thanks to the use of peri peri peppers in the seasoning or sauce. The flavor can be adjusted to be more or less spicy depending on personal preference.
Portugal is famous for piri piri chicken. The Portuguese colonies in Africa are believed to be the origin of the dish, which then spread to Portugal. One restaurant in particular, Ramires in the town of Guia on the Algarve coast, claims to have been the first in Portugal to start serving piri piri chicken in 1964.
People use the African bird’s eye chili, also called peri-peri chili, to add spice to their food. The chili’s name, “peri-peri,” comes from it, but there isn’t a clear explanation for why it received this name. It is also worth noting that “peri” is a prefix that can mean “around, near, surrounding, covering, or enclosing”, but this meaning does not appear to be related to the name of the chili pepper.