Best 5 Senegalese Poulet Yassa Recipes

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Senegalese poulet yassa is a classic West African dish that combines chicken, onion, lemon, and a flavorful marinade to create a zesty, aromatic, and unforgettable meal. With its vibrant colors and tantalizing aromas, it's no wonder that this dish has become a favorite among food enthusiasts worldwide. If you're looking for a recipe to cook up this delicious dish, there are a few variations to choose from. We've gathered some of the best recipes out there to help you find the one that suits your taste preferences and culinary skills the most. Whether you prefer a traditional version or one with a modern twist, you're sure to find a recipe that will leave your taste buds delighted and wanting more.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

POULET YASSA (CHICKEN YASSA) FROM AFRICA



Poulet Yassa (Chicken Yassa) from Africa image

This traditional chicken dish from the Casamance region of Senegal is one of the most famous African recipes and is found in Senegalese restaurants the world over. For best results let the chicken marinate overnight; in Africa, this is essential to tenderize the sometimes tougher African fowl. It is also very good when made with fish. For the simplest yassa, make the marinade from just oil, lemon juice, onions, and a little mustard.

Provided by Ed Gibbon

Categories     Chicken

Time 4h45m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 cup peanut oil (or any cooking oil)
1 chicken, cut into serving-sized pieces
4 -6 onions, cut up
8 tablespoons lemon juice
8 tablespoons vinegar (cider vinegar is good)
1 bay leaf
4 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (optional)
1 tablespoon maggi seasoning sauce (or Maggi cubes and water or soy sauce) (optional)
1 chili pepper, cleaned and finely chopped (optional)
cayenne pepper or red pepper
black pepper
salt
1 small cabbage, cut into chunks (optional)
2 carrots, cut into chunks (optional)

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.

POULET YASSA RECIPE (SENEGALESE CHICKEN RECIPE)



Poulet Yassa Recipe (Senegalese Chicken Recipe) image

A popular, Senegalese dish, this tender chicken is marinated in an onion-lemon-vinegar mixture that then cooks down into a completely delectable sauce that is amazing.

Provided by The Wanderlust Kitchen, adapted from The Africa Cookbook

Categories     Main Dish

Time 9h

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
3 boneless (skinless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally to make two thin fillets)
4 large yellow onions (roughly chopped)
8 Tbsp. lemon juice
8 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1 bay leaf
4 cloves garlic (minced)
2 Tbsp. Dijon or stone-ground mustard
1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and finely chopped (optional))
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. peanut or vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Combine all of the ingredients except for the last 2 Tbsp. of oil in a large zip-close bag and allow chicken to marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight. When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the bag, but save the marinade.
  • Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add 2 Tbsp. peanut or vegetable oil once hot. Sauté chicken for two minutes on each side. Remove, and set aside on a plate.
  • Use a slotted spoon to scoop the onions out of the marinade bag, add to the hot pan and cook for 5 minutes. Add the remaining marinade and bring to a boil. Cook at a boil for ten minutes.
  • Continue to cook the marinade until it becomes a sauce (about 20 minutes). Reduce heat to medium, then return the chicken and drippings to the sauce, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through (about another 10-15 minutes). Serve with rice.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 351 kcal, Carbohydrate 12 g, Protein 21 g, Fat 24 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 51 mg, Sodium 588 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 5 g, UnsaturatedFat 19 g

SENEGALESE CHICKEN YASSA



Senegalese Chicken Yassa image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
4 large onions, thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/8 teaspoon minced fresh Habanero or other hot chile, to taste
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon peanut oil
One chicken (2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds), cut into serving pieces
1 Habanero or other hot chile, pricked with a fork
1/2 cup pimiento-stuffed olives
4 carrots, scraped and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
1/2 cup water

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.

POULET YASSA RECIPE (SENEGALESE CHICKEN RECIPE) BY THE WANDERLUST KITCHEN



Poulet Yassa Recipe (Senegalese Chicken Recipe) By The Wanderlust Kitchen image

Poulet Yassa Recipe (Senegalese Chicken Recipe) By The Wanderlust Kitchen

Provided by Czardilyn

Categories     Dinner

Time 9h

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

½ cup peanut oil
3 boneless - skinless chicken breasts,
4 large yellow onions
8 tbsp lemon juice
8 tbsp cider vinegar
1 bay leaf
4 cloves garlic
2 tbsp Dijon
1 jalapeno pepper
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Get Recipe Directions Here >>

Nutrition Facts :

SENEGALESE BRAISED CHICKEN WITH ONIONS AND LIME (CHICKEN YASSA)



Senegalese Braised Chicken With Onions and Lime (Chicken Yassa) image

Outrageously delicious recipe from Milk Street TV, lightly adapted for ingredients more readily available in the U.S. (habanero chiles rather than Scotch bonnets, for example). You definitely want to serve this over some sort of grain (rice, couscous, etc.) to catch all the fabulous sauce!

Provided by lecole54

Categories     Chicken

Time 3h

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

4 tablespoons peanut oil, divided
3 tablespoons lime zest, plus 6 tablespoons lime juice (grated)
1 habanero pepper, seeded and minced
kosher salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon concentrate
2 lbs chicken thighs, skin-on and bone-in
3 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
chives, finely chopped, to serve

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.

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality chicken pieces for the best flavor and texture.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut the chicken and vegetables into uniform pieces for even cooking.
  • Marinate the chicken in the lemon-onion mixture for at least 30 minutes to infuse it with flavor.
  • Brown the chicken in a large pot over medium heat to create a flavorful base for the stew.
  • Add the vegetables and cook them until they are tender but still have a slight crunch.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and coconut milk and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Season the stew to taste with salt, pepper, and additional lemon juice, if desired.
  • Serve the poulet yassa hot over rice or your favorite grain.

Conclusion:

Poulet yassa is a flavorful and satisfying Senegalese dish that is easy to make at home. With its tender chicken, aromatic vegetables, and creamy coconut milk sauce, this stew is sure to become a family favorite. Serve it with rice or your favorite grain for a complete and delicious meal. This recipe is a great way to explore the vibrant flavors of Senegalese cuisine. The combination of chicken, vegetables, and coconut milk creates a rich and flavorful stew that is sure to impress your taste buds. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give poulet yassa a try!

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