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Peri Peri Chicken

Botch
Botch Posts: 17,376
This is an African dish published in [i]Cook's Illustrated[/i] that I've been wanting to try.
4-10 arbol chiles, stemmed
3 Tbspns EVOO
2 Tbspns salt
8 garlic cloves, peeled
2 Tbspns tomato paste
1 shallot, peeled/chopped
1 Tbspn sugar
1 Tbspn paprika
1 Tbspn 5-spice powder
2 tsp lemon zest plus juice from 2 lemons
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne
3 crushed bay leaves
 
1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts, chopped fine
6 lbs bone-in chicken pieces
 
I just realized that when one of the two local groceries closed, I lost my source for dried chiles (they had mostly a hispanic clientele).  Didn't have any arbols on hand, but I did have a new ground pepper called Alleppo (yeah, the same place that al Assad is blowing the sh*t out of in Syria, picked up faint notes of shrapnel and C-4), used that instead.  I also left out the bay leaves as I don't have any.  Why 5-spice powder is in an African recipe I have no idea.  Churn all the spices/liquids in a blender til smooth, then toss the chicken, peanuts and marinade in a bowl and let sit overnight.  
 
I could've sworn I had one of those half-moon stones, so I could do direct grilling then indirect roasting of the chicken, but I guess I don't.  I set up for indirect grilling, with a water pan as I forgot to cover my platesetter with foil, 400 F with cherry smoke.  The skin could've been a bit crispier, guess I need to pay more attention on how you guys direct-grill chicken pieces to get the crisp skin.  Meat was perfect (I used all thighs).  
 

 


 
This is the best chicken I've made on my Egg, and definitely a keeper!   Hot but not too hot, and a flavor profile I just haven't experienced before.  

"Dumplings are just noodles that have already eaten"   - Jon Kung

Ogden, UT, USA


Comments

  • 55Kevy
    55Kevy Posts: 238
    Piri Piri is one of our favorite ways to do chicken.  Haven't done it on the BGE yet (BGE Newbie here) but have done piri piri on the Weber many times. It is an interesting flavor profile and very yummy.  Our recipe calls for cooking the marinade down and adding a little butter and spooning it over the chick.

    Kevin

    Beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, CA
    XL BGE, Woo2, AR


  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Always looking for new chicken recipes. Crispy skin doesn't matter - I usually remove the skin first anyway. :) This looks delicious! Thanks!!

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

  • I think piri piri is originally Portuguese and then transferred to African colonies. Can be wicked hot.
  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 17,376
    edited October 2015
    55Kevy said:
    Our recipe calls for cooking the marinade down and adding a little butter and spooning it over the chick.
    I wish I'd set aside a bit of the marinade to add on top, will try this next time; I was dang near licking the plate.   
     
    @Jarold, that's why this recipe called for 4 to 10 arbols (easy-to-find replacement for peri/piri peppers), should be quite hot.  I'm tempted to try it with a habanero, as they supposedly have a "fruity" character too (I personally can't taste "fruit" in any chiles, but then I can't taste bay leaves either).  

    "Dumplings are just noodles that have already eaten"   - Jon Kung

    Ogden, UT, USA


  • Chicklet
    Chicklet Posts: 205
    I think piri piri is originally Portuguese and then transferred to African colonies. Can be wicked hot.
    Yep.  That.  
    Love me some piri piri!  If you are ever in the DC area there is a Nando's Peri Peri that has some amazing food!  There are other locations but I've only been to DC.  

    I am definitely going to try this recipe!  
    m
    Eat, drink and be merry

    Huntsville, AL ~ LBGE noob
  • chrisc133
    chrisc133 Posts: 501
    I love peri peri as well. The local restaurant here sells their marinade and sauce. Made some wings this weekend with it. 


    Augusta, GA
    #BGETEAMGREEN member
    MiniMax, Large, XL BGE
    Featured on Man Fire Food Season 7
  • I wish my family liked spicy food because that looks great!!
    Flint, Michigan
  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,597
    looks good to me, i like the heat. i never understood bay leaf until i got a plant and now use it fresh off the bush. the dried stuff is useless to me
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
  • I worked in Mozambique for a year and we had a choice between Piri Piri chicken and BBQ'd goat. (Mozambique was a Portuguese colony until they overthrew them in a bloody civil war). Both were really good but I still love piri piri spatchcocked chicken on the egg. I have tried many many recipes and have yet to match the flavor from our favorite hole in the wall in Tete. I will try this one as well. We never had peanuts in any of the chicken over there so I am not sure how it fits.
    LBGE,Mini Max,Stoker Meadow Lake Sask.
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    Thanks for the recipe. I love these kinds of flavors. Added to the BGE bucket list. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • HeavyG
    HeavyG Posts: 10,380
    Nando's Peri Peri sauces are available via Amazon. I go thru quite a lot of their Garlic flavored variety. Their sauces are among my favorite hot sauces.

    If you order a 4-pack you do not need to worry about the bottles breaking. They are packed in a clever folded box design that protects the bottles very well.
    “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    Show off :clap: 
    Looks and sounds delicious!
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    I live a sheltered life...
  • bosco0633
    bosco0633 Posts: 383
    I love piri piri chicken.  We have a local Portuguese restaurant that cooks it up!!!!!!  

    I buy their sauce because it tastes just right!!

    Traditional Portuguese Piri Piri... uses lard!! that is the key ingredient as far as I am concerned!!!

    great looking cook!!
  • txhawkeye
    txhawkeye Posts: 279
    Looks great putting it on the to do list.