Best 4 Senegalese Braised Chicken With Onions And Lime Chicken Yassa Recipes
Embark on a culinary journey to Senegal with Chicken Yassa, a delectable dish that captures the vibrant flavors and aromas of West African cuisine. This traditional one-pot meal combines tender chicken braised in a savory sauce of caramelized onions, tangy lime, and a blend of aromatic spices. As the chicken simmers, it absorbs the rich flavors of the sauce, creating a harmonious balance of sweet, sour, and savory notes. Served over fluffy rice or couscous, Chicken Yassa is a hearty and comforting dish that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. This recipe also includes variations such as a vegetarian version featuring tender jackfruit instead of chicken, a spicy version with the addition of scotch bonnet peppers, and a simplified version for those short on time. Get ready to indulge in the vibrant flavors of Senegal with this versatile and delicious dish.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SENEGALESE BRAISED CHICKEN WITH ONIONS AND LIME (CHICKEN YASSA)
Outrageously delicious recipe from Milk Street TV, lightly adapted for ingredients more readily available in the U.S. (habanero chiles rather than Scotch bonnets, for example). You definitely want to serve this over some sort of grain (rice, couscous, etc.) to catch all the fabulous sauce!
Provided by lecole54
Categories Chicken
Time 3h
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a large bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons of oil, the lime zest, habanero, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Transfer 2 teaspoons of the mixture to a small bowl and set aside. To the remaining oil-zest mixture, whisk in the lime juice, bouillon and ¼ cup water. Add the chicken and onions and toss. Cover and let marinate at room temperature for 1 hour or refrigerate up to 2 hours, stirring once.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Set a colander over a large bowl and strain the onions, reserving both the marinade and the onions.
- In a large Dutch oven over medium-high, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil until barely smoking. Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook until well browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and pour off and discard all but 1 tablespoon of the fat. Set the pot over medium heat and stir in the onions and ¼ cup water, scraping up any browned bits. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Stir the reserved marinade into the onions. Return the chicken, skin side up, to the pot, nestling the pieces in the sauce, then pour in any accumulated juices. Reduce to medium-low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until a skewer inserted in the thickest part of the meat meets no resistance, about 25 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a serving platter or shallow bowl. Off heat, stir the reserved oil-zest mixture into the onions, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the onions and sauce around the chicken and sprinkle with chives.
- Tip: Don't marinate the chicken for longer than two hours; the acidity of the lime juice will soften the meat. Likewise, don't use an uncoated cast-iron pot. The lime's acidity will react with the metal, causing the sauce to taste metallic.
SENEGALESE CHICKEN YASSA
Steps:
- In a large nonreactive bowl, prepare a marinade with the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper, minced chile, and the 1/4 cup peanut oil. Place the chicken pieces in the marinade, making sure that they are all well covered, and allow them to marinate for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. Preheat the broiler. Remove the chicken pieces, reserving the marinade, and place them in a shallow roasting pan. Broil them until they are lightly browned on both sides. Remove the onions from the marinade. Cook them slowly in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a flameproof 3-quart casserole or dutch oven until tender and translucent. Add the remaining marinade and heat through.
- When the liquid is thoroughly heated, add the broiled chicken pieces, the pricked chile, olives, carrots, mustard, and water. Stir to mix well, then bring the yassa slowly to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot over white rice.
SENGALESE CHICKEN YASSA
Steps:
- In a large non-reactive bowl, prepare marinade by mixing the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper, minced chile, and 4 tablespoons of the peanut oil. Place the chicken pieces in the marinade, making sure that they are all well covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the broiler. Remove the chicken pieces, reserving the marinade and onions, and place the chicken in a shallow pan. Broil the chicken until it is lightly browned on both sides. Remove the onions from the marinade. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a flameproof 5-quart casserole or Dutch oven and cook the onions slowly until tender and translucent. Add the reserved marinade. When the liquid is thoroughly heated, add the chicken pieces, pricked chile, olives, carrots, mustard, and water. When the dish has reached the desired degree of hotness, remove the chile and reserve (it can be served separately to the chile heads). Stir to mix well, then bring the yassa slowly to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve over Plain White Rice.
- Bring the water to a boil in medium saucepan. Stir in the remaining ingredients, cover, and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Remove the rice from the heat and allow it to stand for 5 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.
- Yield: 4 servings
CHICKEN YASSA
Popular across West Africa, chicken yassa coaxes deep flavor from a handful of simple ingredients: smoky grilled chicken, sweet caramelized onions, tangy lime, bright ginger and spicy Scotch bonnet chile. This version comes from "The Fonio Cookbook" by chef Pierre Thiam (Lake Isle Press, 2019). Mr. Thiam, who was born and raised in Dakar, is the chef and owner of Teranga, a West African restaurant in Harlem. His recipe calls for bone-in chicken legs, but, in southern Senegal, where the dish originated, you might be served other chicken parts, fish yassa or even lamb yassa. The cooking method is flexible: The chicken develops the best smoky char when grilled, but will still be delicious seared in a grill pan or cast-iron skillet.
Provided by Alexa Weibel
Categories dinner, poultry, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken legs with the scallions, thyme, vinegar, 1/4 cup lime juice and 1 tablespoon oil. Marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
- If using a grill or grill pan, heat it over high; if using a cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. (If cooking indoors, pat the chicken dry, discarding marinade, then brush the chicken lightly with oil.) Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Working in batches if necessary, grill or sear the chicken until browned on both sides, 6 or 7 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high. When the oil is hot, add the onions in an even layer, season with salt and pepper, and let sear without stirring for 3 to 4 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir occasionally to prevent onions from burning at the bottom of the pot, and allow onions to cook until they start to caramelize and take on some color, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Add the bell pepper, chile, garlic, ginger, bay leaves and the mustard (if using), and continue stirring, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of water as needed to avoid scorching at the bottom of the pot, another 5 minutes. Stir in another 1/4 cup lime juice, and season with 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper.
- Add the grilled chicken into the pot, tucking it under the onions, then top with 1 cup water. Stir well, smooth mixture gently into an even layer, cover and simmer over medium until chicken is cooked through and tender, about 30 minutes.
- Season to taste and add more lime juice to taste, if desired. Serve chicken over rice, with onion mixture and sauce drizzled generously on top.
Tips:
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot: This is to help distribute the heat evenly and prevent the chicken from burning or sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Marinate the chicken: Marinating the chicken in a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, and spices helps to infuse it with flavor and make it more tender.
- Brown the chicken: Browning the chicken in a little bit of oil before stewing it helps to develop its flavor and color.
- Use a variety of vegetables: This recipe calls for onions, carrots, and celery, but you can also add other vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, or potatoes.
- Use a good quality chicken broth: The chicken broth is a key ingredient in this dish, so be sure to use a good quality broth that is flavorful and not too salty.
- Simmer the chicken until it is cooked through: The chicken should be cooked through before serving, so be sure to simmer it for at least 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve with rice or couscous: Chicken yassa is traditionally served with rice or couscous, but you can also serve it with other sides such as mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a green salad.
Conclusion:
Chicken yassa is a delicious and flavorful Senegalese dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the sauce is flavorful and tangy. The dish is also very easy to make, and it can be easily adapted to your own taste preferences. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give chicken yassa a try. You won't be disappointed!
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