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Piri-Piri Chicken

Yields4 ServingsPrep Time2 hrsCook Time1 hrTotal Time3 hrs

Piri-Piri Chicken, Peri-Peri Chicken, Frango Piri-Piri, and Frango à Cafreal are all basically the same dish: chicken, marinated in a hot chile pepper marinade, then grilled.

 1 chicken; whole or serving-sized pieces
Marinade # 1
 oil (or butter, or bacon grease or similar)
 cayenne pepper or red pepper; or dried red pepper flakes; or finely chopped hot chile pepper
 salt
Marinade # 2
 oil
 cayenne pepper or red pepper
  paprika
 garlic (minced or powdered)
  ground ginger
 salt
Marinade # 3
 oil
 vinegar, or cider vinegar
 cayenne pepper or red pepper; or dried red pepper flakes
 salt
Marinade # 4
 oil or butter
 lemon or lime juice
 fresh hot chile peppers, minced; or cayenne pepper or red pepper; or dried red pepper flakes
 garlic, minced
 parsley, chopped
 salt
Marinade # 5
 oil
 vinegar (red wine vinegar) and/or dry sherry (or cooking wine)
 fresh hot chile peppers, minced; or dried red pepper flakes
 garlic, minced
 black pepper
 salt
Marinade # 6
 oil or butter
 lemon or lime juice
 fresh hot chile peppers, minced; or cayenne or red pepper
 garlic, minced
 ground coriander, ground cinnamon, and/or ground ginger
 fresh or dried parsley or oregano, chopped
 salt
Marinade # 7
 oil (olive oil)
 lemon or lime juice — and/or — vinegar or cider vinegar
 fresh hot chile peppers, minced; or cayenne or red pepper
 garlic, minced
 bitters (Angostura bitters® or similar)
 paprika
 salt
1

Prepare your choice of marinade, or invent your own, by grinding and mixing all of the ingredients (except the chicken) in a glass bowl. For a milder flavor substitute paprika for cayenne pepper. Some recipes call for bay leaf, marjoram, raisins, tarragon, thyme, or tomato paste. Some cooks like to let the marinade "age" for a day or two (in the refrigerator) to allow the flavor to develop.

2

Rub the chicken all over with the marinade (inside and out if using a whole chicken). Allow the chicken to marinate for at least an hour, overnight if possible. Save the remaining marinade after the chicken is done marinating.

3

Cook the chicken on an outdoor grill or broil it in the oven. Depending on your preference, foil wrap or a rotisserie may be used for a whole chicken. As it cooks, turn the chicken and baste it with the remaining marinade, making sure the marinade is completely cooked after the last basting. Remove the chicken from the grill or roasting pan with a clean fork (not one that came into contact with the uncooked marinade). Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

4

Serve with additional hot sauce (but not the marinade that was used with the raw chicken), Rice, bread, or roasted potatoes, and chilled fruit.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4