Piri Piri Chicken
    Posted by Palitha Gunatilake

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    This is a popular dish in Portugal.
    Preparation time 1-2 hours
    Cooking time 30 mins to 1 hour

    Ingredients
    1 whole chicken (about 1kg/2lb 3oz), spatchcoked*
    salt and freshly ground black pepper

    For the piri-piri sauce
    6-12 fresh red chillies, depending on how hot you want it
    1 tbsp garlic, blanched and chopped
    1 tsp salt flakes
    ½ tsp oregano
    ½ tbsp paprika
    100ml/3.5 oz olive oil
    50ml/1.75 oz red wine vinegar

    To make the piri-piri sauce;
    Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Place the chillies on a roasting tray and roast them for 10 minutes.
    Cool and roughly chop the chillies. Place the chillies, garlic, salt, oregano, paprika, olive oil and vinegar in a saucepan, and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
    Allow the mixture to cool, blend it to a puree in a jug blender or food processor. Store in a lidded container at room temperature; it will keep for about a month. Shake before using.

    Prepare chicken:
    Place the spatchcocked chicken in a sealable plastic bag. Add half the piri-piri sauce, spreading it evenly over the chicken. Seal and marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
    Preheat the oven to 200C/390F/Gas 6, and preheat a large griddle pan on the hob. Alternatively, light your barbecue.
    Season the marinated chicken, and cook it on the griddle pan for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
    Transfer the griddled chicken to a roasting tray and roast in the oven for 30 minutes, until cooked through. Alternatively, place the chicken on a medium heat barbecue, covered, for 10-15 minutes on both sides or until cooked through, basting regularly with the remaining piri-piri sauce.
    Serve with chips and salad.

    *A spatchcocked chicken, like a butterflied chicken, is a chicken that has had the back and breastbones removed so it can be opened up and flattened out like a book. This way, it cooks faster and more even all around. Here's how to do it.


    © Malini's Kitchen - Printed from www.infolanka.com/recipes