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Frango à zambeziana
Coconut-lime grilled chicken
Mozambican coconut-lime grilled chicken from the Zambezi province
Frango à zambeziana comes from Quelimane and the Zambezia province of central Mozambique, where coconut palms line the coast: chicken is marinated in coconut milk, lime, garlic and piri-piri chilli, then grilled over coals and basted with the marinade, boiled down into a sauce. It is served with rice or xima (maize porridge) at weekend lunches. The mistake is basting with raw marinade right up to the end; boil it first so it is safe and turns into a creamy sauce. Chef's tip: spatchcock the chicken or use pieces so it grills evenly.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups coconut milk1 tin
- 2 limesjuiced
- 5 garlic clovescrushed
- 3 red bird's-eye chilliesfinely chopped
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp chopped coriander
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ¾ cups coconut milk, 2 limes, 5 garlic cloves, 3 red bird's-eye chillies, 1 tsp paprika and 1 ½ tsp salt. Pour half over 3 ⅛ lb chicken pieces or a spatchcocked chicken, turn to coat, cover and marinate in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight. Keep the other half covered in the fridge for the sauce.
240 minStep 2: Heat a barbecue or the oven grill. Lift the chicken out of the marinade, brush with 2 tbsp vegetable oil and grill for 35–45 minutes over medium coals (or 400°F oven then grill), turning every 10 minutes. Discard the used marinade.
45 minStep 3: Meanwhile simmer the reserved marinade in a small pan for 8–10 minutes until it thickens to a creamy sauce.
10 minStep 4: The chicken is done when the thickest part reaches 165°F and the juices run clear. Brush with a little of the sauce for the last 2 minutes of grilling.
Step 5: Rest for 5 minutes, scatter with 3 tbsp chopped coriander and serve with the sauce, rice or xima.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 44 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 39 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does frango à zambeziana take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
- What can I use instead of limes?
- Lemon, same amount.
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