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Piri Piri Chicken ~ Born in Portugal, Inspired by Hungary

January 16, 2018 by Madalaine 4 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Piri Piri Chicken (also known as peri peri sauce) originates from southern Portugal.  Although variations of it abound, the common elements found in most recipes are: hot pepper (piri piri or bird’s eye chili), citrus, oil, and red pepper.  For me, I can’t think of piri piri without paprika.

Piri piri Chicken Recipe you... Blitz - Pour - Bake!  Presto! You are a superstar!!!  Such and easy recipe. You totally rock! And super good too! | www.lakesidetable.com

I ran across Jamie Oliver’s recipe for piri piri chicken and it was the first time I’d seen a recipe call for so much paprika.  I’ve always had paprika but only used it to dust the tops of deviled eggs.  Now it has a real purpose, piri piri purpose!  

How to Make a Perfect Piri Piri Chicken

The Sauce ~ break out your food processor!

Piri piri Chicken Recipe you... Blitz - Pour - Bake!  Presto! You are a superstar!!!  Such and easy recipe. You totally rock! And super good too! | www.lakesidetable.com

Even though Piri Piri Chicken does not originate from Hungary, I associate this country with this dish because paprika is so Hungarian.   Before it goes into the oven it smells of bright lemons with deep under tones of onion and smokey paprika.

Piri Piri Chicken Recipe (AKA Peri peri chicken)

This recipe uses an oven not a grill and a food processor.  This makes it quick and easy, as well as eliminating having to light up the gas grill and do a lot of dishes.

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Season 4 chicken breasts or chicken thighs (room temperature) with salt and pepper and put them into a casserole dish along with a jar of roasted red peppers (drained and sliced into 1-2 2 inch strips).
  2. Make the Piri Piri Sauce: In a blender or food processor put: 1 quartered medium red onion, 8 basil leaves, 2 tablespoons paprika, lemon juice from 2 lemons, 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt.  Blend this on high until smooth.
  3. Pour sauce over the chicken and red peppers and top with 3-4 sprigs of thyme.
  4. Bake until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 160F, about 1  hour.

Grill Method

If you want to play with fire, here’s a way to get the most out of this recipe!

Grill method:

Step 1: Use chicken that is not skinless.  The skin acts to keep the chicken juicy and protects it from burning, plus the extract fat adds tons of flavor!

Step 2: Make the sauce (#2 in the recipe above).  Marinade your chicken in 1/2 of the sauce for 30 minutes and up to 2 hours, reserve the other 1/2 of the sauce for basting.

According to food scientist Harold McGee, marinading the chicken for more than 2 hours in a sauce with this high of acidity from the lemons can leave the chicken mealy without adding any additional flavor.

When you’re ready to grill: discard the used sauce, place the chicken skin side down and baste it with the remaining marinade.  You may want to also brush it with a little olive oil to give it an extra little char.

Take the chicken off the grill when the internal temperature reads 160, place chicken on a baking sheet and cover with foil for 5-10 minutes and serve!

What to serve with Piri Piri Chicken

Here are some food and wine ideas you can serve with your piri piri chicken.  Wild rice, cous cous or a Mushroom Rice Pilaf are great choices.  A vibrant side salad (like my garlic parmesan salad) and broccoli go well with this dish too. Ratatouille or braised asparagus with cherry tomatoes and feta cheese are colorful sides and would hit the spot as well.

I’m not big on sweet wines, but they do go very nicely if I’ve gone heavy on the red pepper flakes.  If you like your Piri Piri on the spicy side try a dry Reisling or if it’s not too spicy a Vinho Verde is good with it too.

A glass of white wine next to a green bottle of Villa Nova vinho verde

When it comes out, the onion has mellowed and joined with the paprika and lemon that strikes just the right balance with the basil.  Don’t leave the basil out of this party.  She’s that key component that you don’t really notice unless she’s not there.

Piri piri Chicken Recipe you... Blitz - Pour - Bake!  Presto! You are a superstar!!!  Such and easy recipe. You totally rock! And super good too! | www.lakesidetable.com

Tip: write this recipe down on a 3×5 card and hide it in the pantry or kitchen drawer.  Make sure your sweetheart or kids are near by so they can see how cool you are.

Start throwing everything into the blender (don’t let them see you use the recipe).  Blitz – Pour – Bake!  Presto!  You are a superstar!!!  Didn’t even need a recipe.  Boo Yah!

Just pulled that one right out of the air.  Oh yeah, you totally rock!

What is Piri Piri sauce also used for?

This sauce is also excellent on beef (like skirt steak) and it’s widely used on fish too.  However, I have one recommendation if you are going to use it with fish.

When using this method with fish, put the sauce in the the casserole dish first and bake it in the oven for 40 minutes at 350F without the fish.  Then add the fish and cook until it’s done.  Fish cooks very rapidly and will be done before the sauce has a chance to completely meld and come together.

How do you know if your fish is done?  Typically, at 350F bake fish for 15 minutes per 1/2 inch at it’s widest width.  When the fish is cooked thoroughly, it will be flaky and opaque.

Inspired by The lights of Budapest

The paprika turns this sauce a deep crimson that takes me back to the Budapest Grand market.  And nobody does paprika like the Hungarians.

Grand Hall Market in Budapest | www.lakesidetable.com this bunch of peppers inspired this piri piri chicken recipe
Paprika at the Grand Hall Market – Budapest

When Jerry and I visited Hungary, I was completely unprepared for the grandeur of Budapest.  It began as a Celtic settlement and then grew into a Roman capital around 103 A.D. The Huns came into the area during the 9th century, hence the name Hungary.

On the medieval east side of the river, Old Pest | www.lakesidetable.com
On the medieval east side of the river, Old Pest

In 1241 the Mongols sacked the city and it wasn’t until the 15th century that it flourish once again as a Renaissance cultural center.

Pest of Budapest night time on the Danube | www.lakesidetable.com
Looking at the east side all lit up

Seated directly on the Danube, I was awed by their state buildings.  They are huge and magnificent.  The parliament building was built in 1904 when Hungary was 3 times the size it is now.  Pictures can not do them justice.  

To the west, Parliament stands completely lit and reflected in the night’s black water.  To the east, is the cathedral and medieval walls also glowing with golden light.  Spectacular.

Hungary's parliament on the west bank of the Danube, Budapest | www.lakesidetable.com
Hungary’s parliament on the west bank of the Danube.

Well deserved praise

Budapest is cited as being one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.  It also ranks as one of the highest on the EIU’s best quality of life indexes, Conde Naste gives it the #2 spot for “World’s Best City,” and Forbes touts it as Europe’s 7th best place to live.  

Believe the hype.  It’s reflected in the people.  They are absolutely genuine and very nice.  

Enjoying the Pest side of Budapest, Hungary | www.lakesidetable.com

You could loose yourself here for days and days.  On one side of the river (old Pest) you wander narrow medieval cobblestone streets.  

On the other side (Buda), it’s the height of Victorian architecture and my favorite… The Grand Hall Market.  YES!!!

Grand Hall Market in Budapest | www.lakesidetable.com
The Grand Hall Market – Budapest

Oooooh… Let’s go inside!

Grand Hall Market in Budapest | www.lakesidetable.com
2 levels: lower level food market; upper level home goods
Grand Hall Market in Budapest | www.lakesidetable.com
The produce was a feast for the eyes!
Grand Hall Market in Budapest with poppyseed strudel | www.lakesidetable.com
They take their paprika, poppyseed, and strudel very seriously. I’m eating a strudel with 2″ of poppyseed.  Not too sure about this one.
Budapest at night... Jerry and I leaving Budapest in the golden glow of the Parliament- I can't wait to go back! | www.lakesidetable.com
Jerry and I leaving Budapest in the golden glow of the Parliament- I can’t wait to go back!
Piri Piri Chicken Recipe - Give yourself the night off AND impress your family in this crazy quick and easy flavorful dish. They will love it!
5 from 5 votes
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Piri Piri Chicken Recipe

With this Piri piri Chicken Recipe you… Blitz – Pour – Bake!  Presto! You are a superstar!!!  Such and easy recipe. You totally rock! And super good too! | www.lakesidetable.com
Course main dish
Cuisine Portuguese
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 4 servings
Calories 170 kcal
Author Madalaine

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 1 large roasted red pepper quartered
  • 1 medium red onion quartered
  • 8 basil leaves
  • 2 tablespoon paprika
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 sprigs of thyme

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350
  2. Put the chicken and roasted red peppers in a casserole dish
  3. Put all the other ingredients in a blender, except the thyme.  Blend on high until smooth.
  4. Pour this over the chicken and peppers.  Top with the sprigs of thyme.
  5. Bake for 1 hour or until chicken temperature reads 160 degrees.

Recipe Notes

Serve over wild rice, white rice, or cous cous.  A side salad and broccoli go well with this as would a side of ratatouille or braised asparagus with cherry tomatoes and feta cheese.

I’m not big on sweet wines, but they do go very nicely if I’ve gone heavy on the red pepper flakes.  If you like your Piri Piri on the spicy side try a dry Reisling or if it’s not too spicy a Sauvignon Blanc is good with it too.

Nutrition Facts
Piri Piri Chicken Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 170 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 765mg33%
Potassium 653mg19%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 25g50%
Vitamin A 2806IU56%
Vitamin C 50mg61%
Calcium 31mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
piri piri chicken pin

Filed Under: Adventures & Travel Tips, Easy Chicken Dishes, Gluten Free, Ketogenic, Low Carb Tagged With: adventure, amawaterways, blender recipe, budapest, chicken, chicken recipes, dinner, ketogenic, low calorie, low carb, low carb and gluten free, travel

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deb Hatfield

    November 25, 2018 at 6:25 pm

    5 stars
    Ohhh this sounds divine!! Thanks for sharing – will be on my list of dishes to make this winter!

    Reply
  2. Steve Perry

    November 25, 2018 at 6:26 pm

    5 stars
    I’m always looking for a different way to eat chicken – gonna have to have Deb make this one!

    Reply
  3. Joyce Flanagan

    April 5, 2023 at 8:30 am

    5 stars
    Can’t wait to try this recipe. It looks so simple and yet so delicious. I can almost smell it cooking now. I can’t wait to eat it!!!

    Reply
    • Madalaine

      April 5, 2023 at 9:05 am

      Thanks Joyce! Hahaha!!! You are going to LOVE it!

      Reply

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