Senegalese Chicken Yassa

AuthorDanCategory, , DifficultyIntermediate

Marinated chicken braised with caramelized onions.

Senegalese chicken yassa in onion sauce served with white rice
Yields5 Servings
Prep Time25 minsCook Time1 hrTotal Time5 hrs 25 mins

The total time includes a 4-hour marinade. For deeper flavor, marinate the chicken overnight. Keep the Scotch bonnet whole for moderate heat.

Ingredients
 3 lbs bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks
 4 yellow onions, thinly sliced
 ½ cup fresh lemon juice
 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
 4 garlic, minced
 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
 1 tsp dried thyme
 1 ½ tsp fine salt, divided
 1 tsp ground black pepper
 1 Scotch bonnet chile
 3 tbsp groundnut oil or neutral cooking oil
 1 ½ chicken stock
 1 carrot, thinly sliced
 ½ cup pitted green olives
 3 cooked white rice, for serving
Directions
1

Combine the chicken, onions, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, ginger, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add the whole Scotch bonnet, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

2

Lift the chicken from the marinade and pat it lightly dry, keeping the onions and liquid. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat.

3

Brown the chicken in batches for 4 to 5 minutes per side until deeply golden, then transfer it to a plate. The meat will finish cooking in the sauce.

4

Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining oil. Lift the onions from the marinade and cook them with the carrot for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until very soft and golden.

5

Pour in the reserved marinade and chicken stock, scraping up the browned bits. Bring to a steady simmer and cook for 5 minutes so the sharp citrus flavor begins to mellow.

6

Return the chicken and any juices to the pot. Cover partially and simmer over medium-low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once, until the chicken reaches 165°F and is tender.

7

Stir in the olives and simmer uncovered for 5 to 8 minutes until the sauce is glossy and the onions cling to the chicken. Remove the whole chile and adjust salt or lemon to taste.

8

Spoon the chicken and plenty of onion sauce over warm white rice. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges if desired.

Ingredients

Ingredients
 3 lbs bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks
 4 yellow onions, thinly sliced
 ½ cup fresh lemon juice
 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
 4 garlic, minced
 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
 1 tsp dried thyme
 1 ½ tsp fine salt, divided
 1 tsp ground black pepper
 1 Scotch bonnet chile
 3 tbsp groundnut oil or neutral cooking oil
 1 ½ chicken stock
 1 carrot, thinly sliced
 ½ cup pitted green olives
 3 cooked white rice, for serving
Senegalese Chicken Yassa

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Nutrition Facts

5 servings

Serving size

1 chicken with sauce


Amount per serving
Calories560
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 30g39%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 145mg49%
Sodium 880mg39%
Protein 45g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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