Best Yassa Chicken Recipes

POULET YASSA (CHICKEN YASSA) FROM AFRICA

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients (except the optional vegetables), the more onions the better, and allow chicken to marinate in a glass dish in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
• Remove chicken from the marinade, but save the marinade.
• Cook according to one of the following methods.
• Cooking method 1: Grill chicken over a charcoal fire (or bake it in a hot oven) until chicken is lightly browned but not done.
• Cooking method 2: Sauté chicken for a few minutes on each side in hot oil in a frypan.
• While chicken is browning: Remove onions from marinade and sauté them in a large saucepan for a few minutes.
• Add remaining marinade and the optional vegetables and bring to a slow boil, cooking the marinade into a sauce.
• Reduce heat.
• Add chicken to the sauce, cover and simmer until chicken is done.
• Serve with Rice, Couscous (couscous with chickpeas and raisins is very good), or Fufu.

CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the chicken legs with the scallions, thyme, vinegar, 1/4 cup lime juice and 1 tablespoon oil. Marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
• If using a grill or grill pan, heat it over high; if using a cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. (If cooking indoors, pat the chicken dry, discarding marinade, then brush the chicken lightly with oil.) Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Working in batches if necessary, grill or sear the chicken until browned on both sides, 6 or 7 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high. When the oil is hot, add the onions in an even layer, season with salt and pepper, and let sear without stirring for 3 to 4 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir occasionally to prevent onions from burning at the bottom of the pot, and allow onions to cook until they start to caramelize and take on some color, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add the bell pepper, chile, garlic, ginger, bay leaves and the mustard (if using), and continue stirring, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of water as needed to avoid scorching at the bottom of the pot, another 5 minutes. Stir in another 1/4 cup lime juice, and season with 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper.
• Add the grilled chicken into the pot, tucking it under the onions, then top with 1 cup water. Stir well, smooth mixture gently into an even layer, cover and simmer over medium until chicken is cooked through and tender, about 30 minutes.
• Season to taste and add more lime juice to taste, if desired. Serve chicken over rice, with onion mixture and sauce drizzled generously on top.

CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, mustard, lemon zest, chile, black pepper, cayenne and salt to taste in a large nonreactive bowl or other container. Stir in the onions and bay leaf. Add the chicken to the marinade and toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, turning the chicken in the marinade if it's not completely covered, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade; reserve the marinade. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot, add the chicken to the pot and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Add the allspice to the pot and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Spoon the solids from the marinade into the pot and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved liquid and chicken, making sure to spoon the sauce over the chicken to coat. Add about 1 cup of water to the pot. Cover and cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.
• Place the chicken on a serving platter. Spoon the onions and sauce from the pan over the chicken. (Simmer the sauce, uncovered, for 5 minutes on medium heat if there is too much liquid; it should be a rich sauce.) Season with salt and pepper and serve with the rice.

SENEGALESE CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• Mix onions, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, habanero pepper, and bay leaves together in a large pot. Add chicken; cover and marinate in the refrigerator, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Transfer chicken to the grill, reserving onions and marinade in the pot. Grill until browned, 5 to 10 minutes per side.
• Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add onions to the hot oil with a slotted spoon. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Pour in marinade; cook and stir until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken.
• Crumble chicken bouillon cubes and beef bouillon cube into hot water in a small bowl. Pour into the skillet. Cover and simmer until flavors combine, about 30 minutes. Stir in olives and black pepper.

YASSA AU POULET II (CHICKEN YASSA)

Steps:

• In a large nonreactive bowl, prepare a marinade by mixing the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper, minced chile, and 4 tablespoons of the peanut oil in a large bowl. Place the chicken pieces in the marinade, making sure that they are all well covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the broiler. Remove the chicken pieces, reserving the marinade and onions, and place the chicken in a shallow pan. Broil the the chicken until it is lightly browned on both sides. Remove the onions from the marinade. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a flameproof 5-quart casserole or Dutch oven and cook the onions slowly until tender and translucent. Add the reserved marinade. When the liquid is thoroughly heated, add the chicken pieces, pricked chile, olives, carrots, mustard, and water. When the dish has reached the desired degree of hotness, remove the chile and reserve (it can be served separately to the chile heads). Stir to mix well, then bring the yassa slowly to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot over white rice.

SENEGALESE CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• In a large nonreactive bowl, prepare a marinade with the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper, minced chile, and the 1/4 cup peanut oil. Place the chicken pieces in the marinade, making sure that they are all well covered, and allow them to marinate for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. Preheat the broiler. Remove the chicken pieces, reserving the marinade, and place them in a shallow roasting pan. Broil them until they are lightly browned on both sides. Remove the onions from the marinade. Cook them slowly in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a flameproof 3-quart casserole or dutch oven until tender and translucent. Add the remaining marinade and heat through.
• When the liquid is thoroughly heated, add the broiled chicken pieces, the pricked chile, olives, carrots, mustard, and water. Stir to mix well, then bring the yassa slowly to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot over white rice.

CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• In a large nonreactive bowl, prepare a marinade by mixing the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper, minced chile, and 4 tbsp of the peanut oil.
• Place the chicken pieces in the marinade, making sure that they are all well covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Remove the chicken pieces, reserving the marinade and onions, and place the chicken in a shallow pan. Broil the chicken until it is lightly browned on both sides.
• Remove the onions from the marinade.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a 5 quart pot or dutch oven and cook the onions slowly until tender and translucent.
• Add the reserved marinade. When liquid is thoroughly heated, add the chicken pieces, pricked chile, olives, carrots, mustard, and water.
• When the dish has reached the desired degree of hotness, remove the chile and reserve (it can be served separately to the chile heads).
• Stir to mix well, then bring the yassa slowly to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Serve hot over white rice.

CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• Prepare a marinade of the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper, chile, and 4 tablespoons of the peanut oil. Place the chicken pieces in the marinade, be sure they are well coated, and marinate them for at least 2 hours. Preheat the broiler to the highest setting. Remove the chicken pieces and reserve the marinade. Place the chicken pieces on the broiler rack and grill them briefly until they are lightly browned on both sides. Remove the onions from the marinade and sauté them in the remaining oil. Cook them slowly until tender, then add the reserved marinade. When the liquid is thoroughly heated, add the chicken pieces. Add the water and simmer the Yassa over low heat for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Serve hot, over white rice. Yassa can also be made with fish substituted for the chicken. In the Casamance region of Senegal, where the dish originated, Monkey Yassa, is considered a delicacy, but you're on your own there.

SENEGALESE BRAISED CHICKEN WITH ONIONS AND LIME (CHICKEN YASSA)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons of oil, the lime zest, habanero, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Transfer 2 teaspoons of the mixture to a small bowl and set aside. To the remaining oil-zest mixture, whisk in the lime juice, bouillon and ¼ cup water. Add the chicken and onions and toss. Cover and let marinate at room temperature for 1 hour or refrigerate up to 2 hours, stirring once.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Set a colander over a large bowl and strain the onions, reserving both the marinade and the onions.
• In a large Dutch oven over medium-high, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil until barely smoking. Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook until well browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and pour off and discard all but 1 tablespoon of the fat. Set the pot over medium heat and stir in the onions and ¼ cup water, scraping up any browned bits. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir the reserved marinade into the onions. Return the chicken, skin side up, to the pot, nestling the pieces in the sauce, then pour in any accumulated juices. Reduce to medium-low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until a skewer inserted in the thickest part of the meat meets no resistance, about 25 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a serving platter or shallow bowl. Off heat, stir the reserved oil-zest mixture into the onions, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Spoon the onions and sauce around the chicken and sprinkle with chives.
• Tip: Don't marinate the chicken for longer than two hours; the acidity of the lime juice will soften the meat. Likewise, don't use an uncoated cast-iron pot. The lime's acidity will react with the metal, causing the sauce to taste metallic.

WEST AFRICAN CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a bowl and squeeze in the juice of 1½ lemons.
• Add the garlic and chilli.
• Mix to coat the chicken well and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat a hot barbecue, grill, griddle or dry frying pan.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and brush it with oil.
• Place the chicken, skin-side towards the heat, on the barbecue, under the grill, on the griddle or in the pan, and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, until well colored and cooked through, but be careful not to let it dry out.
• While the chicken cooks, cut the onions into medium-thin slices.
• Heat a few drops of oil in a deep frying pan and fry the onions with the thyme for about 5-8 minutes until nice and brown, allowing their sweetness to come out.
• Remove the onions from the pan and set aside on a warm plate.
• Pour the juice of 1 lemon and the chicken stock into the pan, bring to the boil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Allow it to reduce slightly, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to get up all the taste.
• Arrange the chicken on a plate, top with the onions and pour the lemon sauce over it.
• Garnish with the remaining lemon half and serve.

BASQUE CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• Mix the lemon juice, the vinegar, half the oil, the onions and pour on
• the chicken pieces in a bowl. Marinate overnight, or longer.
• Remove the chicken and the onions from the marinade. Brown the chicken on both sides. Remove and set aside.
• Fry the onions in the remaining oil for a few minutes.
• Add the marinade, thyme, hot pepper, water and bay leaves. Simmer on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Return the chicken to the sauce and cook until done, about 30 minutes.

CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• In a large nonreactive bowl, prepare a marinade by mixing the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper, minced chile and 4 tablespoons of the peanut oil in a large bowl. Place the chicken pieces in the marinade, making sure that they are all well covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator. Preheat the broiler. Remove the chicken pieces, reserving the marinade and onions and place the chicken in a shallow pan. Broil the chicken until it is lightly browned on both sides. Remove the onions from the marinade. Heat the remaining tablespoons of oil in a flameproof 5-quart casserole or Dutch oven and cook the onions slowly until tender and translucent. Add the reserved marinade. When the liquid is thoroughly heated, add the chicken pieces, pricked chile, olives, carrots, mustard and water. When the dish has reached the desired degree of hotness, remove the chile and reserve ( it can be served separately to the chile heads). Stir to mix well, then bring the yassa slowly to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot over the rice.

SHELIA'S CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• Stir together lemon juice, oil, mustard, and garlic for marinade in a small bowl. Stir together black pepper, cayenne, lemon-pepper seasoning, and salt in another small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over chicken and transfer to a large zip-top plastic bag. Add lemon juice mixture. Seal the bag and turn to coat. Chill up to 8 hours or overnight.
• Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect grilling, lighting burners on one side only or pushing lit coals to one side. Heat grill to medium heat, 325 to 375 degrees F (165 to 190 degrees C). Lightly oil the grill grate.
• Transfer chicken to unlit side of grill, discarding marinade. Grill, turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest parts registers 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 40 to 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grill lemon halves, cut-sides down, over lit side of the grill until grill marks appear, about 8 minutes.
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat until hot. Stir in onions, bell peppers, carrot, garlic, and lemon juice; cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates and vegetables are tender and starting to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Add chicken broth; cook and stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in olives.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Arrange grilled chicken over vegetables in the skillet.
• Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Serve over cooked rice with grilled lemon halves.

YASSA CHICKEN WITH STEWED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large non-reactive bowl and add onions, garlic, sliced celery, carrots, lime juice and peppers. Let chicken marinate 3 to 5 hours in the refrigerator. Strain the chicken and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve the vegetables. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat and brown chicken on both sides. Remove chicken and pour off excess fat. Add 1 tablespoon oil to Dutch oven and saute marinated vegetables until tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Deglaze with 2 cups chicken stock. Add chicken to Dutch oven and allow to cook over medium heat until chicken is tender and almost falling off the bone. Remove chicken and keep warm. Strain sauce through a fine sieve. Season sauce with lime zest, salt and white pepper. Warm chicken in sauce. Blanch carrots and leeks in 1 cup water with 1 tablespoon butter, salt and pepper. Serve with rice and stewed tomatoes.
• In a large pot of boiling water, immerse tomatoes for about 30 to 45 seconds, or until skin easily pulls away. Transfer tomatoes to salted ice bath. Peel and seed tomatoes, quarter, or cut into thick slices over a sieve set in a bowl to catch juices.
• To a small (2-quart) sauce pan, add butter, onions, tomatoes, and reserved juice. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, loosely cover pan, and simmer approximately 1 hour. Uncover pan, stirring constantly, raise heat until juices thicken, stirring so it doesn't burn and add fresh thyme leaves.

CHICKEN WITH LEMON MUSTARD SAUCE / YASSA

Steps:

• 1. Rinse the chicken pieces under cold running water, then drain and blot dry with paper towels. Make 1 or 2 deep slashes, to the bone, in each piece, then place in a nonreactive baking dish large enough to hold the pieces in a single layer. Set aside while you prepare the spice paste.2. Combine the garlic, chiles, salt, and pepper in a mortar and pound to a paste with the pestle, then work in the oil or combine the oil with the other ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Using your fingers, stuff half the spice paste into the slashes in each piece of chicken, then spread the remainder over the skin. Cover and let marinate, in the refrigerator, for 2 to 12 hours (the longer the better).3. Preheat the grill, using the two-tiered method.4. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Select a heavy nonreactive saucepan or flameproof casserole large enough to hold the chicken and in it combine the onion, mustard, oil, lemon juice, olives, bay leaf, chile, and salt and pepper. Stir well to mix and bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft and the sauce is thick and creamy and the oil has started to separate out, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste. Discard the bay leaf and chile. Set the sauce aside, covered.5. When ready to cook the chicken, oil the grill grate. Arrange the chicken pieces, skin side down, on the grate over the hotter section of the grill and cook.6. Transfer the chicken to the saucepan with the sauce and bring to a simmer over low heat, spooning the sauce over the chicken to coat. Cover and cook until the chicken is well flavored by the sauce, 4 to 5 minutes.7. Transfer the chicken pieces to serving plates or a platter, spoon the sauce over, and serve.Serves 4

YASSA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Marinate chicken for 3 to 5 hours in onions, garlic, celery, carrots, lime juice, and hot pepper. Strain, remove chicken and pat dry. Reserve vegetables. Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown in Dutch oven in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Remove chicken, and pour off excess fat.
• Deglaze pan with chicken stock and add chicken, and marinated vegetables. Allow to cook, covered, over medium heat until chicken is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove chicken and reserve in warm place (oven preheated to 250 degrees.) Strain sauce through china cap or sieve. Season the sauce with lime zest, salt, and pepper. Warm the chicken in sauce. Warm the blanched carrots and leeks in 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon butter, plus salt and pepper. Serve the chicken with enriched rice and greens, and garnished with the blanched vegetables.

SENGALESE CHICKEN YASSA

Steps:

• In a large non-reactive bowl, prepare marinade by mixing the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper, minced chile, and 4 tablespoons of the peanut oil. Place the chicken pieces in the marinade, making sure that they are all well covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the broiler. Remove the chicken pieces, reserving the marinade and onions, and place the chicken in a shallow pan. Broil the chicken until it is lightly browned on both sides. Remove the onions from the marinade. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a flameproof 5-quart casserole or Dutch oven and cook the onions slowly until tender and translucent. Add the reserved marinade. When the liquid is thoroughly heated, add the chicken pieces, pricked chile, olives, carrots, mustard, and water. When the dish has reached the desired degree of hotness, remove the chile and reserve (it can be served separately to the chile heads). Stir to mix well, then bring the yassa slowly to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve over Plain White Rice.
• Bring the water to a boil in medium saucepan. Stir in the remaining ingredients, cover, and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Remove the rice from the heat and allow it to stand for 5 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.
• Yield: 4 servings

YASSA-CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat peanut oil. Place chicken in pan and brown on all sides. Remove chicken from pan and reduce heat to low. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add chicken stock, garlic, chili pepper, cumin, salt and pepper, potatoes and carrots and bring the liquid to a boil. Add chicken pieces. Place the lid on top of the skillet, lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve over rice and sprinkle with unsalted peanuts.