Chiclanagir

Anyone out there got a recipe for good chicken piri piri. Have never been able to make it like you can eat it on the Algarve. Have got packets of dry piri piri which I have tried mixing with olive oil and lemon juice but doesn´t have that same sticky hot in your mouth feel.

Thydney

You can actually buy Nandos sauce for piri piri

TouristTrap

How do you know about Nandos?? Yup, you can get it most anywhere including the UK. http://www.nandos.com/

Easy as pie. Get some of Nando's peri-peri sauce, marinade your chicken in it for a few hours at least, and then barbeque, preferably over coals. Tastes delicious.....Wish I could pop out to a Nando's for chicken like I used to in Africa...

Funnily enough, when we first moved to South Africa from Zimbabwe in the early 80's, we used to order a chicken from a little hole-in-the-wall chicken place. You'd order two hours ahead of time for Sunday lunch, arrive there, take a ticket and join the queue outside around the block. Would take about 2 hours waiting in line for your order. They sold their little concern to another fella who went into partnership and lo and behold, it is now international - Nando's was born. It used to be called Chickenland initially, then became Nando's Chickenland when he bought it out and of course, now it is plain Nando's.

TouristTrap

Should add. It isn't just a matter of adding dry peri peri spice to it. The sauces are made and then 'seasoned' for a few months.....like wine That is why it doesn't taste as good as Nando's would for example. (They have a killer peri-peri recipe)

Thydney

I know much more than you think

Chiclanagir

Thank you will try to get some Nandos when I get back to the UK this week. I thought all I had to do was use the packet spice.

algarve_holidayer

Nandos is great idea and using their sauce to marinate the chicken is a good shortcut.

However, here is my humble suggestion:

Before grilling the chicken in charcoal l marinate the chicken for a couple of hours in chopped garlic, chopped chillies; a bit of paprika (‘colorau’), a few spoons of olive oil, and a little salt. To ensure I get close to the ‘real’ flavour I use Portuguese garlic, chillies, colorau, olive oil and sea-salt. I get these ingredients from Portugal when I’m over there or go to Portuguese Delis to get them here in the UK!

{If I could I would use Portuguese chicken as I believe that these are different and contribute to the flavour!}

Tip: when you can buy one of the small light metal B-B-Qs sold in the Algarve… They are used by the locals to grill fish and chicken and use very little coal. I think they cost about 6 euros in supermarkets such as Pingo Doce?

I use the above approach in London and it works a treat!

Enjoy the chicken!

TouristTrap

If you add a bay leaf or two and some white wine or beer to that marinade, you'll have some great chicken. A pinch of peri-peri spice will kick it up another notch.

algarve_holidayer

An improved recipe TouristTrap!
Right on! Cheers!

rogil

In my humble opinion whatever you do it will never taste as it does when you are actually eating it in Portugal. I don't know what it is but nothing ever tastes the same as it tastes in Portugal. I will have to go there soon......

Thydney

It's like fish and chips they just never taste the same when you cook them yourself.

jdr

Never had it , what does it taste like ?

Thydney

Your life has a void you have my sympathy

Mattiespeople

Hi jdr - have you ever thought of a visit to Portugal? Drive all along Algarve the East, West and Middle are all so different but excellent.
Now back to Piri Piri - I find most places to not add before cooking but provide an oil based sauce. The best is at the Markets where they do BBQ chicken over oil drums - the piri piri is dark red and amazing, Vindalooooo strength - served with jugs of wine, olives bread chips and salad. A good meal for 4 people approx 24 Euro's for the lot!

TouristTrap

I have family coming over next month. My ma asked what I wanted......nothing they can bring with them, unfortunately, like some good bacalhau or queijo da serra or a bucketload of olives......or my favorite cakes - they're from a small bakery in Belas and they're called 'Fofos de Belas'. If ever in the Lisbon area, head for Belas and ask....I kid you not, but I will make myself sick the minute I arrive at the mother's house - she always has at least 2 dozen of them ready and waiting for us. Just ask any Portuguese person from the Lisbon area about them....SALIVATING HERE people!