Peri Peri chicken with Musk Melon dip, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions and garlic breadPiri Piri in Swahili means Pepper Pepper. It is an African bird’s eye chilli which is very hot. Piri-Piri chicken has its roots both in Africa as well as in Portugal. The amount of chili used in the dish can be increased or decreased to suit one’s own palate, depending on how hot you want it to be. This dish is made with bird’s eye chili. If it is not available you can substitute it with cayenne pepper, paprika and red chili flakes. If you chose to go exactly with this recipe, it has just the right amount of ingredients and is not very hot. The brown sugar balances the spice level very well besides caramelizing the chicken and veggies beautifully.
My daughter is fond of Piri-Piri chicken and no way was I going to order it from the local joint during her exams. So, I made this dish at home from scratch( I didn’t want to use the store bought Piri Piri sauce either). I served it with toasted garlic bread, roasted potatoes , caramelized onions and a delicious Musk melon dip which I ….er..ahem..invented 😉 experimented (whichever sounds more modest lol ) The melon dip was an instant hit and it went well with the chicken and the bread. Actually it deserved a separate post.
Elements on the Plate:
- Piri-Piri chicken
- Roasted Potatoes
- Caramelized onions
- Musk melon dip
- Toasted garlic bread
Recipe for Piri-Piri Chicken Portugese style
What you need:
- 1 whole chicken with skin( spatch-cocked)
- Juice of 1 big lemon
- Zest of 1 big lemon
- 1 tbsp. Cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp. sweet paprika
- 1 tbsp. red chili flakes
- 2 tbsp. dried oregano
- salt to taste
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1-2 tbsp. brown sugar( I used 2)
- a pinch of red food coloring
Second set of ingredients:
- Two potatoes cubed
- 2 onions roughly sliced/chopped
Method:
As I have mentioned in my previous posts, I love to brine and spatchcock my chicken before grilling. (you can skip brining if you want, but it makes a lot of difference to the end result). Brining makes it moist and tender where as spatch cocking it ensures even grilling.
- Mix the first set of the ingredients in a bowl and brush it on a well rinsed, brined and spatch-cocked chicken.
- Leave it in the fridge covered over night or at least 6 hours.
- Brush a grilling pan with oil and lay a bed of potatoes.
- Then layer it with onions.
- Now spread the marinated chicken over it like a butterfly.
- Grill in a pre-heated oven at 200º c for half an hour.
- Reduce heat to 180º C and grill further till done. The juices should run clear when the chicken is poked with a skewer. It should take 45 min to an hour depending on the size of the chicken and hours of marination.
- Broil it for 5-10 min for a charcoal effect.( I didn’t do it as it was getting late)
Note: If possible grill it outside on a charcoal grill. But it works beautifully in the oven too. The advantage of making this in the oven is that the vegetables get cooked along in the same pan. The brown sugar in the recipe drips on the onions and caramelizes them beautifully.
Recipe for Musk melon dip
What you need:
- 1/2 cup mayo ( I always make mine)
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup musk melon puree
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp. sugar
Mix them all and whip for a minute. Keep it in the fridge till you serve.
Musk melon dip
Recipe for toasted garlic bread
What you need:
- 1 baguette ( french bread loaf)
- 3 tsp. Oregano seasoning
- 2 tbsp. Olive oil
Cut thick slices of the baguette. Mix the seasoning with oil and brush on top of each slice. Grill on a wire rack at 200 º C for 5-10 minutes.
Peri Peri chicken with Musk Melon dip, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions and garlic breadEnjoy this tasty meal with friends and family . I am taking this platter to all my FF friends.Fiesta Friday is hosted by Angie@The Novice Gardener and is being co-hosted by Jhuls @The Not So Creative Cook and Mila @milkandbun.
Aromas and Flavors from my Kitchen 
Sounds fantastic!! I love Piri-Piri!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Elyann 🙂 It was an awesome meal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that looks yummmyyyy!! And would be an awesome combination!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes dear Bilna. It was an unexpectedly beautiful combination. Thank you for liking it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That looks like such a delightful meal! I have some musk melon sitting in the fridge, will make this dip right away 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Nitali 🙂 The subtlety of this dip goes very well with the hot chicken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
omgggggggoodnessssss PIRI PIRI Chicken!!!!!!!!!!! You need to come cook for me pleaseee
Looks so yum
I am so hungry
xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear!! If I were anywhere close by, I would have sent you a platter of this meal immediately. thank you for liking it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I shall be thinking of this act of kindness for the entire day and wish it come to pass — even if its for someone else!
Have a wonderful day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a wonderful person Dana 🙂 Have a wonderful day
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story, and isn’t it amazing how you’ve adopted the same idea from your mother (feeding your daughter during her exams)? I love piri piri and have several recipes that I’ve tried over the years, now I’ll add yours to the rest. It looks gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Loretta ☺ This version of Piri Piri is a mild one and can be spiced up by adding more chili. But personally this suited my family’s taste. And yes my grandmother was a gem of a woman and her tales always had a hidden message.
LikeLike
Very attractive piri piri portugese dish
Very tempting
I must ask my daughter in law to prepare this week end
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure she will make it easily. Please let me know when she does ☺
LikeLike
Looks delicious and I love that story! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for liking it ☺
LikeLike
I love when you can relate food with you own family stories, it brings more to the meal! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Lety. Cooking for your loved ones gives immense satisfaction. And I think every dish has a story to tell and lovely memories to reminisce. Thank you for liking it dear ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks great, love piri piri!! I love that you made this from scratch for your daughter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Suzanne ☺I didn’t like using the bottled sauce especially when its so easy to make.
LikeLike
This looks super gorgeous! Love that you made it from scratch! 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Radhika. It was quite easy to make. And my family really loved it. So it was well worth the effort ☺
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
ooooooh yuuuuuum!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Hi SKD!~ Delicious! ⭐
Happy friday & weekend ahead ! Aquileana 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey thanks a lot Aquileana. I am collecting your stars. Happy Friday and have an awesome weekend too ☺
LikeLike
Such fabulous colours on the plate!!! Amazing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Elaine ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an absolutely lovely dish, skd! From the flavors (the heat sounds just right!) to the gorgeous color. I say please, please for some chicken piri piri!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Nancy. The heat was just right for us too. Didn’t hurt the palate or the tummy 😊. I have seen recipes which called for 8 to 10 birds eye chilies per chicken but that would have been too hot to handle 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this is the second piri piri chicken I have seen today and it kills me as I wanted to eat one since two weeks ago. 😐 So thank you for bringing today at the Fiesta. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most welcome dear Jhuls. I think the piri piri wants you to eat it that’s why it keeps coming in front of you repeatedly, just what your mandi did to me 😊 Thank you for hosting the FF. Have a nice weekend .
LikeLike
Ooh! I just came in from the garden with an armload of musk melons. I’ll have to try that dip! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Thats awesome. Please do try it.
LikeLike
Masha allah very tempting God bless you my dear for sharing your recipes
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your warm wishes ☺
LikeLike
This looks like a must make! I have always wanted to taste this, and I think the only way I will is to make it! My mouth is watering, i swear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know I had a similar craving when I saw it first and couldn’t rest till I made it . Even taking pictures seemed like a task 😊
You can increase or decrease the heat to your liking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love every part of this wonderful meal. The musk melon dip is a very clever (invention) accompaniment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Hilda 😊You noticed the ‘invention’ 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, yummmm!
LikeLike
Beautiful meal and such pretty, bright pictures of it all. I do not mind “heat” in a recipe so I would probably not adjust any thing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Judi. The heat was just right for our family. It got mellowed with the sweet and sour dip ☺
LikeLike
It looks amazing skd! I love piri piri, I normally go for mild when I have it at Nandos because I’m a wimp haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michelle. I am pretty much the same 😊Especially when eating with kids have to opt for the milder version.
LikeLike
This chicken looks so enticing. the piri priri sauce looks so flavorful ! And your musk melon dip sounds like a perfect complement to this fiery chicken! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you dear Indu. Together it made a wonderful meal. Everyone loved the dip because it mellowed the heat beautifully .
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great dish and I love the sound of your musk melon dip! It sounds perfect for the summer! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Petra. Please do try it. I am sure you will love it 🙂
LikeLike
The things that mothers do for children. This looks so good (but labor-intensive!) that I am certain your daughter starred on her exams.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is awaiting her results. I will pass on the good wishes to her. Thanks a million from both of us ☺
LikeLike
Great recipe, I’ve been trying to re-create Nando’s and even if this isn’t quite the same, it looks absolutely superb. I can’t wait to try it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much ☺ This recipe is slightly different from the Nandos recipe. It turns out delicious whatsoever.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for liking ☺It is slightly different from the Nandos recipe but whatsoever tastes delicious and can be enjoyed by the entire family starting from kids to adults. Do try it.
LikeLike
Wondering if I can use honeydew melon instead of musk melon? I think they have musk melon in north India but not down south in Kerala. Looks fantastic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you can. Just maybe it wouldn’t need additional sugar.
Thank you for stopping by ☺👍
LikeLike
I tried it and it was amazing…but I used kashmiri paprika and dark vinegar instead…thanks for the post…was looking out for a good piri piri chicken recipe and found it!… Waiting to try the musk melon dip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Thank you for the review dear ☺I am so happy you liked it. You will like the dip too. Thank you so much for stopping by. You made my day ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually ty fr the recipe..looking forward to more amazing recipes…I’m just a beginner to blogging but cooking s so much fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The pleasure is mine Lina. I have had fun browsing through your blog. Will bookmark some recipes and try them over a weekend. All the best with your blogging. You will soon find the wordpress community a very warm place to be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I realized that today..ty so much for your encouragement…I ve a long way to go though!..plz do try my recipes and comment:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww…sure dearie. Please do keep visiting too ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have had peri peri /piri piri chicken wings at a Portuguese restaurant in New Bombay twice and they were lip smacking and finger licking good , but your pictures clearly tell me that I have yet to taste the real thing !!!! Simply yummylicious looking dish !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww…That’s a beautiful thing to say! ! Thank you so much for the kind words ☺ Please do keep visiting. I like your blog . Especially the titles of your posts are amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you . Am humbled !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sincerely mean it. ‘Jaw dropping ‘ ‘Wings of transformation ‘ ‘Mirrored ‘ are instances of your creative skills
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a ton . You really made my day .
LikeLiked by 1 person