For years we were bitter that the nearest Nando’s wouldn’t deliver to our home which was only about 5kms away. But that didn’t stop us from eating at Nando’s.
In fact, if we ever spotted a Nando’s anywhere, it would take precedent over other meal options. Like seriously, we would know where to eat in a heartbeat. Nando’s!
Recently, we embarked on a slow-carb diet and boy were we happy when we realised that Nando’s has the best slow carb meals! Proteins, vegetables and beans…superb! However, Nando’s still does not deliver to my area :(
# – Kimberly’s homemade peri-peri chicken!
But it’s okay now because I can make my own peri-peri chicken at home!
For the peri-peri sauce:
3 bird’s eye chillies (if want spicier increase amount up to 8 for very hot), chopped 3 ordinary red chillies, chopped 1 red capsicum, seeded and chopped 5 cloves of garlic, peeled 2 tablespoonfuls of oregano 1/2 a cup of olive oil Juice of 1/2 a lemon 70 ml of white vinegar 2 teaspoons of salt For the chicken:
1 whole chicken, butterflied and cut into half Some salt
By the way, the recipe for the peri-peri sauce yields about 300ml of sauce. Multiply it accordingly if you want to make more, it keeps for a month in the fridge!
# – First, pour the olive oil into a saucepan over medium heat.
# – Then add the white vinegar.
# – When the oil & vinegar mixture starts simmering, throw in the chopped up red capsicums.
# – As well as the garlic cloves.
# – Followed by juice of half a lemon. Stir to mix.
# – Allow the mixture to simmer for 15 minutes.’
# – After 15 minutes, turn off the heat. Add the chopped red chillies with seeds and all.
# – Not to forget the bird’s eyes chillies too, with seeds as well.
# – Also the oregano.
# – And lastly, salt. Allow the mixture to cool down slightly, about 10-15 minutes.
# – After it has cooled down a bit, pour it into a blender.
# – Blitz till it’s creamy and turn a bright orange. The peri-peri sauce is now done :D
# – Now, pour about 150 ml of sauce all over the chicken (that’s been rubbed with some salt) and brush it all over. Keep the rest of the sauce.
# – Stick the chicken in the fridge to marinade for a minimum of 3 hours or best, overnight.
# – When ready to cook, bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees celcius for 30 minutes. Then turn the heat down to 180 degrees celcius and cook for a further 15-20 minutes.
# – Peri-peri chicken, DONE!
# – Serve with grilled vegetables and 3 bean salad (recipe to be posted soon). Pour the remaining peri-peri sauce over the chicken for extra oomph.
# – And that’s how you make your own Nando’s peri-peri chicken at home.
The chicken was succulent and full of flavours. The sauce was delicious!
The BF said that it didn’t taste precisely like the sauce from Nando’s but it’s unmistakably a peri-peri sauce with its own special kick. Happy cooking!
