By Eileen Latimore
Piri Piri Chicken
2 steps
Prep:10minCook:35min
Don't reduce the number of Fresno chilies; all are needed for flavor and color. To reduce spiciness, remove some or all of the seeds and ribs from the chilies before processing. Don't substitute Thai chilies for the Fresnos; they pack far more heat.
To make our version of the tangy-sweet sauce, we use pure New Mexico or California chili powder. If you can't find either, use ¼ cup regular (not smoked) sweet paprika. Avoid standard chili powder, which is a blend of ground chilies and other herbs and spices.
Updated at: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 20:00:48 GMT
Nutrition balance score
Unbalanced
Glycemic Index
40
Low
Glycemic Load
8
Low
Nutrition per serving
Calories515.7 kcal (26%)
Total Fat33.5 g (48%)
Carbs20.3 g (8%)
Sugars11.4 g (13%)
Protein34.4 g (69%)
Sodium2434.2 mg (122%)
Fiber4.2 g (15%)
% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Ingredients
4 servings
3 TABLESPOONSCHILI POWDER
NEW MEXICO, OR CALIFORNIA
1 tablespoonground cumin
1 tablespoonground coriander
1 tablespoonsmoked paprika
1 ½ tablespoonskosher salt
3 POUNDSCHICKEN THIGHS
BONE-IN, SKIN-ON, TRIMMED
2 tablespoonswhite sugar
8FRESNO CHILIES
MEDIUM, STEMMED AND QUARTERED
3GARLIC CLOVES
MEDIUM, PEELED
⅓ cuplemon juice
¼ cupred wine vinegar
1 cupfresh cilantro
lightly packed, leaves and tender stems, finely chopped
Instructions
Step 1
Heat the oven to 450°F with a rack in the middle position. In a small bowl, stir together the chili powder, cumin, coriander, paprika and salt. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the mixture; add the remaining mixture to a food processor and set aside. Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons over the skin sides of the chicken and rub it in. Place the thighs on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until the thickest part of the largest thigh reaches 175°F or is no longer pink when cut into, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, add the sugar, chilies and garlic to the spice mixture in the processor. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping the bowl as needed. With the machine running, pour in the lemon juice and vinegar, then process until smooth, scraping the bowl once or twice. Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in the cilantro. Transfer the chicken to a platter and serve with the sauce.
