Name: Peri Peri Chicken Recipe - Nando's Fake-away
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 385 min
Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs; 3 tbsp peri peri seasoning; 3 tbsp water

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What is Nando’s peri peri chicken?

Peri peri chicken has been made famous across the world by the restaurant chain Nando’s. Nando’s is a Portuguese inspired restaurant however the crucial ingredient for their famous spice mix, peri peri, originated in Africa. The main dish at Nando’s is their on the bone chicken so for this recipe I’m pairing chicken thighs with my very own medium spice peri peri seasoning which if you haven’t already, you will need to make for this recipe. This recipe provides two portions at 445kcal each.

Do you have a restrictive diet?

This recipe is:

Gluten free
Dairy free
Nut free
Low GI
Low Fat
Low FODMAP
Syn Free
Paleo Friendly
Keto Friendly

The Peri Peri Chicken Seasoning:

The thing that makes peri peri seasoning different to other chilli seasonings is that peri peri seasoning is specifically made with birds eye chilli’s. The name peri-peri comes from the Swahili translation of pepper-pepper. You will need to make this seasoning before you can make the peri peri chicken or any of my other nando’s fake-away recipes. Don’t worry, its super quick and easy, it literally takes 2 minutes.

Peri Peri Seasoning Recipe

This peri peri seasoning recipe is a healthy recipe for a dry spicy seasoning made internationally famous by the restaurant brand Nando's.

Check out this recipe

The Peri Peri Chicken:

Ok so now you’ve got your jar of peri peri, your ready to marinate your chicken. Take 4 chicken thighs with the skin, because lets be honest, its the best bit and its worth every extra calorie. place them in a dish big enough for all of them to sit flat. In a bowl mix together 2 tablespoons of peri peri seasoning with 3-4 tablespoons of water. Pour this all over your chicken thighs and massage it in. Place this in the fridge to marinate for at least several hours but preferably over night.

BBQ, Grill or Air fry?

Once your chicken has marinated sufficiently heat up your grill. In Nando’s restaurants the chicken is flame grilled. Unless you happen to be reading this recipe during summer and you happen to have a BBQ to hand, you can make do with a grill oven which is what I will show you considering its currently November for me. In England at least, its typical for our ovens to have a second smaller section at the top that doubles up as a grill with an element above that typically heats food at a higher temperature to an oven, simulating a grill. If you don’t have a BBQ or a grill, an air fryer at 220c for 20-25 minutes also works well. Heat your grill on high and place your marinated chicken on a wire rack on your grill tray.

Place your chicken under the grill for 10 minutes before turning and grilling the other side for a further 10 minutes. Keep an eye on your chicken throughout because food can burn really fast under a grill.

After 20 minutes your chicken thighs should be cooked. Its really important to make sure chicken is thoroughly cooked, if you have a meat thermometer you can use this. Chicken needs to read a temperature of 75c or higher. If not, you can place your chicken on a clean wire rack like you would use for cooling cakes with some foil underneath and check that any juices run clear. If there is any blood they need to go back under until they pass the test.

The Grilled Corn:

If you would like to include corn in this recipe as shown in the photo, grill the corn cobs under the grill with the chicken for 10-15 minutes turning regularly. Optionally you can add butter and salt but personally I prefer them plain as they’re so flavoursome all on their own.

What else should I serve with Nando’s peri peri chicken?

Make sure you don’t forget to pair this chicken with the famous peri peri rice, or if this chicken is too spicy for you, next time try the mango and lime chicken recipe! Not feeling those vibes? How about Lemon and herb chicken instead?

Peri Peri Rice Recipe – Nando’s Fake-Away

Peri Peri rice is a great addition to your dishes. Made famous by the Portuguese inspired restaurant chain Nando's. Nando's peri peri rice is probably one of the most popular side dishes at Nando's. Featuring a special blend of herbs and some pepper and peas for added texture and nutrition.

Check out this recipe

Mango & Lime Chicken Recipe | Nandos Fake-Away

Mango and Lime chicken has been made famous across the world by the restaurant chain Nando's. The main dish at Nando's is their on the bone chicken so for this recipe I'm pairing chicken thighs with a mango and lime marinade which for a long time was my favourite flavour at Nandos.

Check out this recipe

Roast Chicken Recipe With Lemon And Herbs

Roast chicken is such a universal recipe. Whether you're looking forward to a Sunday roast or stripping the chicken off the bones to save for your salad, there's a meal out there for everyone.

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Can I reheat my Nando’s Chicken?

You sure can! I use my microwave to reheat most dishes. As with all meat products, make sure the peri peri chicken is piping hot before serving.

Can I freeze peri peri chicken?

Yes, you can freeze Nando’s chicken either before or after cooking. Make sure to defrost thoroughly before reheating.

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