Lime Tree Kitchen

Bring this quick and easy Nando’s classic into your home for a celebration of flavor. Finger licking, spicy peri peri chicken for everyone to enjoy.

We all love to go out for dinner, and on the odd occasion to stay in and have a takeaway. This peri peri chicken is the best of both worlds. Whether it’s for a big family dinner or especially for valentines, say I love you by serving up succulent chicken with a well-known spicy flavor.

When you think of peri peri sauce or piri piri sauce, you might think of a well-known chain of restaurants called Nando’s. The company is originally from South Africa and specializes in South African/Portuguese food. Its signature dish is peri peri style chicken. Although the name has different spellings depending on whether you are from South Africa or Portugal, the flavor remains the same vibrant heat that everyone loves.

Alternative Ingredients for your Spicy Peri Peri Chicken

1. A true peri peri sauce uses the African bird’s-eye chili. Originally from South America it is now mainly associated with Portugal and Africa. It is rather hard to find it in local supermarkets so if you can’t locate them, use Thai chilis, any small red chilis or chili flakes will work as well. You will just have to use different quantities depending on the heat.

Healthy Alternatives

1. If you are trying to be healthier but still want great flavor then make the dish with skinless chicken breasts.
2. Instead of serving it with fried potatoes, wedges or rice, you could serve it with a crunchy salad or cauliflower rice. There’s no reason you can’t enjoy your meal while keeping healthy.

What to to pair with your peri peri chicken?

Something light like a Caprese salad for the appetizer. There is enough heat in the main course already.

Chocolate Soufflé with vanilla ice cream would be a lovely dessert to cleanse your palette and cool your taste buds.

When it comes to drinks for your dinner, you should pair your wine with the strong spicy marinade and not just the chicken. Something like a South African Cabernet Sauvignon, French Chenin Blanc or a New Zealand or South African Sauvignon Blanc. If your are a beer drinker then I would suggest an IPA or a citrusy pale ale.

Serving Suggestions for Spicy Peri Peri Chicken

The choices are really endless.

1. Serve your roast chicken on a bed of cilantro rice and corn on the cob.
2. You could spatchcock a full chicken and serve it on top of creamy mash.
3. If you don’t want the hassle of a full chicken, try chicken thighs and drumsticks instead. Pair them with sides such as sweet potato wedges, crispy chips, creamy mash or even a fresh crunchy coleslaw. Soak up the juices with freshly made bread rolls.
4. If there are left overs, you could make them into spicy peri peri chicken wraps and serve them for lunch with a salad the next day.
5. If you like spicy foods, check out my super easy taco bell-inspired beef tacos.

Storage

1. You can store your cooked chicken leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge.
2. Alternatively, you can store them in the freezer but make sure you defrost them fully. It’s also very important to make sure it is piping hot throughout before eating.