African Chicken

Name: African Chicken
Ingredients: 1 small fryer chicken, approximately 4 pounds; For the Marinade:; 8 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 2 bay leaves, finely crumbled; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 tablespoons olive oil; For the Basting Sauce:; 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 can (16 ounces) coconut milk; 2 hot chile peppers, finely chopped

This dish was actually invented in the 1940s in Macau, a former Portuguese colony. No one knows for sure why it was named African Chicken, since the chef who originally created it passed away about 30 years later, but it is a possible nod to Portugal's Moorish history. The marinade is very similar to that for Frango Grehaldo (Portuguese grilled chicken), but the idea of using coconut milk for the basting sauce probably came from Goa, another former Portuguese colony.

Submitted by: Mabel from Chicago, IL
Yield: 4

Spices

Featured in this Recipe

Ingredients

1 small fryer chicken, approximately 4 pounds
For the Marinade:
8 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 bay leaves, finely crumbled
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Basting Sauce:
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 can (16 ounces) coconut milk
2 hot chile peppers, finely chopped

Preparation Instructions:

To prepare the chicken, remove the vertebrate by cutting along either side with kitchen shears. Break the breast bone if necessary so the chicken can lay flat. Mix all ingredients for the marinade together. Rub the chicken with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Let the chicken sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before ready to broil. Mix together the ingredients of the basting sauce. Start the oven broiler and baste the skin with the coconut sauce. Place chicken skin side up on a roasting rack about 8" under the broiler. Baste frequently and broil for an hour. When ready, the chicken should be blackened on top and moist underneath.

Helpful Hints

I use finger hot peppers, but jalapenos would work just fine. I personally like red hot peppers, but those are hard to find.

Based on 6 reviews

Customer Reviews

kking

i hate fride chicken

liz e

need to have weights not sizes as they differ in different regions

Tml

Wonderfully moist and easy to prepare. The whole family loves this. Marinating overnight is not a must.

steve

oooh i didn’t know that the chicken was so hot

this is great

maria h

I am glad someone posted this recipe, I have been to Macau and tried this original recipe in a colonial restaurant in the 70s and have been missing it ever since I moved to Seattle. I think the chef who created it owns the restaurant in Macau, I am not sure if the restaurant is still there. It’s a unique experience. I paired it with a very light Rose wine.