Gastronomy Main Dish

Zambezia-style Chicken

The Zambezia-style chicken is a traditional Mozambican dish, typical of the Zambezia region. It is prepared with chicken marinated in a rich mixture of coconut milk, lemon, garlic, piri-piri (chili pepper), salt and aro…

Zambezia-style Chicken
Prep time40 min
Servings4 people
DifficultyMedium

About the dish

The Zambezia-style chicken is a traditional Mozambican dish, typical of the Zambezia region. It is prepared with chicken marinated in a rich mixture of coconut milk, lemon, garlic, piri-piri (chili pepper), salt and aromatic herbs. After marinating, the chicken is grilled until golden and juicy.

This dish is highly appreciated for its exotic flavor, resulting from the fusion between African ingredients and Portuguese influences. It is usually served with white rice, xima (corn porridge) or salad.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces

  • 1 lemon (juice)

  • 4 garlic cloves (chopped or crushed)

  • 1 teaspoon of piri-piri (or to taste)

  • 1 teaspoon of salt

  • 1 teaspoon of paprika (optional)

  • 200 ml of coconut milk (natural or canned)

  • 2 tablespoons of oil or olive oil

  • Black pepper (to taste)

  • Aromatic herbs (such as parsley or cilantro, optional)

Method

  1. Step 1

    Clean and cut the chicken

    Wash the chicken pieces well and remove excess fat or skin if desired.

  2. Step 2

    Make the marinade

    In a large bowl, mix garlic, salt, piri-piri, black pepper, paprika, lemon juice and coconut milk. Mix well.

  3. Step 3

    Marinate the chicken

    Place the chicken pieces in the bowl with the marinade. Coat well and marinate for at least 1 hour (ideally overnight in the refrigerator) to absorb the flavors.

  4. Step 4

    Prepare the grill or griddle

    Heat the grill, charcoal or griddle (you can also use a frying pan or electric grill if necessary).

  5. Step 5

    Grill the chicken

    Grill the chicken pieces slowly, turning occasionally, while brushing with the marinade. This keeps the meat juicy and flavorful.
    Cooking time: about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces and the heat of the grill.

  6. Step 6

    Serve

    When well browned on the outside and cooked through, remove and serve hot. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired.

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