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Poulet bicyclette
Grilled free-range chicken
Burkina Faso's grilled free-range chicken with spice rub and onion-tomato sauce
Across Burkina Faso and northern Côte d'Ivoire, "bicycle chicken" is the lean village chicken once carried to market strapped to the back of a bike; in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso it is grilled whole at open-air stalls in the evening and eaten with fries, attiéké or a chunk of bread. The birds are smaller and firmer than supermarket chicken, so a small free-range or poussin works best at home. The mistake is grilling a whole chicken over high heat from the start, which burns the outside before the inside is safe; start it on indirect heat or in the oven, then char it. Chef's tip: spatchcock the bird so it cooks evenly and fast.
- Total time
- 80 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 ⅞ lb small free-range chickenspatchcocked
- 1 oniongrated
- 4 garlic clovescrushed
- ⅔ oz fresh gingergrated
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 lemonjuiced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1 chicken stock cubecrumbled
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 2 tomatoesfinely chopped
- 1 green pepperfinely chopped
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Mix 1 onion, 4 garlic cloves, ⅔ oz fresh ginger, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 lemon, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 chicken stock cube, ¾ tsp salt and 3 tbsp vegetable oil. Rub all over and under the skin of 2 ⅞ lb small free-range chicken.
Step 2: Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
120 minStep 3: Heat the oven to 400°F (or set up a barbecue with coals on one side). Roast the chicken skin side up on a rack for 35 minutes, or cook it on the cool side of the barbecue with the lid on.
35 minStep 4: Move the chicken to a hot grill or the hot side of the barbecue and grill for 5–8 minutes a side, until the skin is charred and crisp.
15 minStep 5: Check the thickest part of the thigh: it must reach 165°F and the juices run clear. Rest for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 6: While it rests, mix 1 onion, 2 tomatoes, 1 green pepper, 1 tbsp white vinegar and the remaining ¼ tsp salt with 2 tablespoons of water.
Step 7: Cut the chicken into pieces and serve with the fresh sauce spooned over.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 470 kcal
- Protein
- 46 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 28 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does poulet bicyclette take?
- About 80 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 60 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.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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