CHICKEN PERI-PERI /MEDITERRANEAN RICE AND PERI-PERI SAUCE

When we had our "buka puasa" at Nando's MidValley the other day, my daughter asked whether I can make it. Honestly that was the first time I tasted Nando's Chicken Peri-Peri, and to take up her challenge today I tried to make it for "buka puasa". I don't really have the recipe..just browse through the net and guided with what I had tasted the other day I made this Chicken Peri-Peri my own version, and to my surprise it was a hit, my children love sauce. 

I made some side, a simple coleslaw, potato salad, corn and some fresh salad and a small portion of Mediteranenan Rice.  Here's some context on Peri-Peri Chicken that I found from the net.

A hot and spicy chicken recipe, Peri Peri chicken is a speciality of the Nando's restaurants. This recipe uses a home made Peri Peri sauce that is made with several chile peppers, chile powder and other ingredients. You can make extra quantities of the Peri Peri sauce and keep it refrigerated until needed. The chicken has to marinade in the Peri Peri sauce for at least 2 hours (the longer the better) so you can start the marinade process a day ahead.

Chicken Peri-peri / Meditteranean Rice/ Peri-Peri Sauce

For The Chicken

1 Medium Whole Chicken

2 Tablespoons Butter

5 Green  Chili Peppers blend

2 tbsp papprika

2 cloves garlic crushed

1 Lime zested, juiced and halved

olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

1 medium white onion peeled and quartered.

2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs (parsley, thyme etc)

1. Wash and Dry the Chicken then using a spoon carefully lift the skin away from the breast meat to create a cavity for your flavoured butter. Place in a roasting tin.
2. Mix together the butter, chilli, garlic, herbs, half the citrus zest and salt and pepper. push this under the skin of the chicken. squeeze half the citrus juice over the chicken skin season with salt and pepper then drizzle with olive oil and rub over.
3. Place lime halves inside chicken cavity along with quartered onion and some salt and pepper. Cover loosely with foil and oven bake according to chicken packing instructions. make sure to remove the foil for the final 30 minutes then rest the Chicken in a warm place for 15-20 mins before carving.
4. Discard the lime inside the cavity. Slice up, the other half add back to the chickens cooking juice in the tray with the onion, some chicken gravy powder, half a glass of chicken stock

For The Sauce

10 fresh green chile peppers (jalapeno, poblano or similar)*

8 Tbsp lemon juice or lime juice*

10 - 12 Tbsp olive oil (or more to achieve desired consistency)*

1 Tbsp cayenne pepper or red pepper (adjust quantity to taste)*

2 tsp garlic powder*

2 Tbsp paprika*

2 tsp salt*

2 Tbsp dried oregano (or to taste)*

1 tsp turmeric powder*

1 cup chicken stock

½ cup cooking cream

1 tbsp corn flour mix with chicken stock

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and process to a smooth paste. Taste and adjust with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and paprika.
2. Heat up olive oil or butter and sauté the ingredients till fragrant
3. Add in chicken stocks and cooking cream.
4. Stir until thicken.

For The Mediterranean Rice

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 cups rice

2 teaspoons chicken stock powder

2 tablespoons lemon rind, grated

1/4 cup parsley, chopped black pepper boiling water

1. Heat oil & saute onion & garlic until tender, stir in rice.
2. Add boiling water until pan is 3/4 full. Bring to boil, stirring.
3. Stir in stock & rapid boil for 10-12 mins or until tender, drain well.
4. Return to pan adding lemon rind, parsley & pepper, toss well to combine.

Saya ni orangnya pantang dicabar, baru-baru ni berbuka puasa dengan anak saya di Nando's Mid Valley, makan Chicken Peri-Perinya...kemudian anak perempuan saya tanya sama ada saya boleh tak buat ayam panggang tu. Saya kata hendak dapatkan sebiji macam Nando's mungkin tak, sebab saya tidak ada resipinya tetapi saya boleh cubalah berdasarkan lidah saya. Jadi hari ini buntu tak tahu apa nak masak jadi saya cuba buat Chicken Peri-Peri ini. Buka net tenguk lebih kurang bahanya untuk memastikan gerak lidah saya ini betul...jadi saya mula membuatnya cara saya.  Alhamdulillah nampaknya menjadi lebih-lebih lagi sosnya.

Untuk resipi ini saya banyak menggunakan cili hijau. Ayam ini sesuai dihidangkan dengan Nasi Mediterranean....yang lebih kurang macam nasi minyak juga la...lain-lain side dish tu ikut selera masing-masing. Saya buat sedikit potato salad, coleslaw dan fresh salad. Memang menarik...cuba mungkin perlu sedikit pengubah suaian untuk mengenakkan lagi masakan ini. Keseluruhanya...mantop!!!!

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