Piri-piri chicken

Portuguese recipes

Piri-piri chicken

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (about 1kg/2lb 3oz), spatchcocked
• 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/3½fl oz olive oil
• 50ml/1¾fl oz red wine vinegar

To serve

• chips
• salad
  
  

  Preparation method

  1. 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.
     
  2. 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.
     
  3. Allow the mixture to cool, then blend it to a purée 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.
     
  4. 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.
     
  5. Preheat the oven to 200C/390F/Gas 6, and preheat a large griddle pan on the hob. Alternatively, light your barbecue.
     
  6. Season the marinated chicken, and cook it on the griddle pan for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
     
  7. 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.
     
  8. Serve with chips and salad.