Ingredients
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4 pounds Chicken Thighs
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2 cups Chicken Broth
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2 medium Serrano Chiliminced
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1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder
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10 ounces Noodles
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1/3 cup freshly squeezed Lemon
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4 large Onionthinly sliced
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4 medium Carrotscut into rounds about 1/3 inch thick
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2 teaspoons Sea Salt
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1 teaspoon Pepper
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6 tablespoons Canola Oil
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1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
Steps for African Chicken Yassa
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1
Done
3 Hours
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Prepare the Yassa MarinadeIn a large bowl, prepare the marinade by combining the lemon juice, minced chilis, onions, half of the salt, pepper, chili powder, and 4 tablespoons of the oil. Place chicken in marinade and let stand for up to 3 hours. The longer, the better. The onions will begin to wilt and release their liquid into the marinade. You can also prepare it with a day ahead (it would be better because next day you will prepare the rest. |
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2
Done
14 Minutes
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Cook the chicken meatRemove the chicken from the marinade. In a large sauté or frying pan, over medium-high heat, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and sauté the chicken, turning, until golden, about 6 minutes per side. Remove from pan. |
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3
Done
11 Minutes
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Cook them in Chicken BrothAdd the onions and their marinade to the pan and cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and reduced in volume, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of the chicken broth if necessary to keep the onions from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Place the chicken pieces in the pan with the onions and add the chicken broth. |
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4
Done
40 Minutes
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Slowly cook the Yassa chickenCover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the chicken is nearly cooked through, about 20 minutes. Add carrots and cook until the carrots are just tender and the onions very soft, about another 15 minutes. Stir in the Dijon mustard. |
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5
Done
10 Minutes
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Prepare the noodlesIn the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. When boiling, add the noodles and the remaining salt. Most of the noodles are ready in just 10 minutes, therefore, prepare this step with a maximum of 15 minutes before step 4 would be ready. |
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6
Done
3 Minutes
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Wrapp UpDrain the noodles and spoon into bowls, topped with a piece of chicken and lots of sauce. |
Additional Info for African Chicken Yassa
African Chicken Yassa is juicy, almost like a French onion soup, which makes sense given the French influence in western African countries like Senegal, where this recipe originates. Chicken Yassa is also reminiscent of another French dish, chicken fricassée. The sweetness of the carrot complements the acid of the lemon. Here, the chicken is served bone-in over large whole wheat pasta shells which can absorb the generous amount of broth.
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About Chicken Yassa Recipe
This Yassa Chicken is fantastic; it is versatile enough for a weeknight meal or an elegant dinner party centerpiece because you can do the prep work the day before (and I recommend doing it because it deepens and tenderizes the chicken). Be sure to shake off any excess marinade before grilling, so you get the flavor and moisture without risking it burning during cooking. Chicken Yassa is scrumptious West African comfort food that the whole world needs to know about.
Delicious tender chicken and lots of caramelized onions in a sweet, spicy, lemony sauce are what you get with this tasty dish. Senegalese Chicken Yassa is a popular recipe throughout west Africa and among Americans. It’s one of those simply delicious dishes: just a few ingredients that are transformed, by the magic of cooking, into an exciting and comforting meal. Chicken, lots of onions, lemon juice, garlic, dijon mustard, and one hot pepper to infuse a perfect amount of deliciousness. After marinating, you’ll get fall-off-the-bone tender chicken and sweet caramelized onions in a captivating sweet-tangy-spicy sauce.
Can I use Chicken Yassa for Slimming Purposes?
Chicken is the most common protein source for dinners, especially when you want to get slimmer. It is generally affordable and versatile, and it can be prepared in a million ways. It is especially good as the main ingredient in healthy, high-protein dishes. It is safer to include chicken in your weight loss diet as it is lean meat and doesn’t put you at risk of high cholesterol. The addition of chili or any other spicy ingredient will help you even more with your weight loss program.
Africans’ way for healthy meals
The traditional African diet isn’t a diet per se. Rather, it is a way of eating that advocates for wholesome rather than processed food. The human body requires lots of different nutrients for its proper functioning, including Omega 3 fats, vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and most of these nutrients are only found in whole, and real foods.
The Oldways African Heritage Diet Food pyramid illustrates a diet based on whole and fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, herbs and spices, as the bases for the Traditional African diet. Afro-fusion cooking is based on the principles of the traditional African diet and combines traditional African cuisine with elements from other cultures to create Afro-fusion cuisine.
Whether they are steamed, sautéed, roasted, grilled or raw, you can enjoy veggies like okra, cabbage, green beans, or eggplant in larger portions than the other parts of your meal. African cuisine is prolific in its use of herbs and spices. instead of salt, you can add a depth of flavour to meals with herbs used in African cooking.
It resembles chicken fricassée. Isn’t the same dish?
It is true that, to a certain point, this is the same recipe. However, chicken fricassee has slightly different ingredients. Therefore, these are two different recipes, but with some resemblances.
Can I freeze or refrigerate the Chicken Yassa?
The African Chicken Yassa can safely be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days. After that, it’s best to freeze it. It can be frozen for up to 1 to 2 months at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Notes and Tips
- You may wish to use olive oil to fry the onion.
- You can actually marinate the chicken overnight.
- You can also replace the chicken with fish.
