A traditional chicken dish from the Casamance region of Senegal, Poulet Yassa (Chicken Yassa), is one of the most famous African recipes and is found in Senegalese restaurants the world over. For best results let the chicken marinate overnight; in Africa, this is essential to tenderize the sometimes tougher African fowl. It is also very good when made with fish, see: Poisson Yassa. For the simplest yassa, make the marinade from just oil, lemon juice, onions, and a little mustard.


Poulet Yassa Recipe

Poulet Yassa, a traditional chicken dish from Senegal.

Prep Time3 hrs 20 minsCook Time50 minsTotal Time4 hrs 10 minsYields4 Servings

Ingredients

 ½ cup peanut oil or any cooking oil
 1 chicken, cut into serving-sized pieces
 4 (or more) onions, cut up
 ½ cup lemon juice (juice of 4 lemons)
 ½ cup vinegar or cider vinegar
 1 bay leaf
 4 garlic cloves, minced
 2 tbsp tablespoons Dijon mustard (optional)
 2 tbsp Arome Maggi® sauce or Maggi® cubes and water, or soy sauce (optional)
 1 chile pepper, cleaned and chopped
 cayenne pepper or red pepper (to taste)
 black pepper
 salt
 ½ cabbage, cut into chunks (optional)
 2 carrots, cut into chunks (optional)

Instructions

1

Mix all ingredients (except the optional vegetables), the more onions the better, and allow chicken to marinate in a glass dish in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Remove chicken from the marinade, but save the marinade. Cook according to one of the following methods.

2

Cooking method 1: Grill chicken over a charcoal fire (or bake it in a hot oven) until chicken is lightly browned but not done.
— or —
Cooking method 2: Sauté chicken for a few minutes on each side in hot oil in a frypan.

3

While chicken is browning: Remove onions from marinade and sauté them in a large saucepan for a few minutes. Add remaining marinade and the optional vegetables and bring to a slow boil and cook at a boil for ten minutes. Cook the marinade into a sauce. Reduce heat.

4

Add chicken to the sauce, cover and simmer until chicken is done.

Ingredients

 ½ cup peanut oil or any cooking oil
 1 chicken, cut into serving-sized pieces
 4 (or more) onions, cut up
 ½ cup lemon juice (juice of 4 lemons)
 ½ cup vinegar or cider vinegar
 1 bay leaf
 4 garlic cloves, minced
 2 tbsp tablespoons Dijon mustard (optional)
 2 tbsp Arome Maggi® sauce or Maggi® cubes and water, or soy sauce (optional)
 1 chile pepper, cleaned and chopped
 cayenne pepper or red pepper (to taste)
 black pepper
 salt
 ½ cabbage, cut into chunks (optional)
 2 carrots, cut into chunks (optional)

Directions

1

Mix all ingredients (except the optional vegetables), the more onions the better, and allow chicken to marinate in a glass dish in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Remove chicken from the marinade, but save the marinade. Cook according to one of the following methods.

2

Cooking method 1: Grill chicken over a charcoal fire (or bake it in a hot oven) until chicken is lightly browned but not done.
— or —
Cooking method 2: Sauté chicken for a few minutes on each side in hot oil in a frypan.

3

While chicken is browning: Remove onions from marinade and sauté them in a large saucepan for a few minutes. Add remaining marinade and the optional vegetables and bring to a slow boil and cook at a boil for ten minutes. Cook the marinade into a sauce. Reduce heat.

4

Add chicken to the sauce, cover and simmer until chicken is done.

Poulet Yassa

Serve with RiceCouscous (couscous with chickpeas and raisins is very good), or Fufu. Serve Ginger Beer or Green Tea with Mint with or after the meal.