Lemon pepper chicken

Make it with Monalisa

Tanzanians love their chicken, especially when it is fired up with a bit of spice. Paa’s cookery columnist Monalisa Rwechungura has created a finger-licking recipe to try at home with instructions in English and Swahili.

It’s no lie, chicken is a culinary phenomenon here. Just look at the number of restaurants, bars and fast food kiosks selling it. The range of marinades and cooking methods means it is a really versatile dish. In a nutshell, the culinary possibilities with chicken are endless.

Today we explore the world of lemon pepper chicken. Soaked in a lemony marinade and glazed with a buttery lemon pepper sauce, this recipe is guaranteed to start a party in your mouth.

It is the perfect dinner recipe for a busy weeknight, requiring just a simple marinade and a short cooking time, this chicken recipe is filled with tangy flavours that pack a punch and will leave your family craving more.

It can be paired with any carb of your choice or a simple salad. I like to serve it with mashed sweet potatoes (to get that sweet and sour combo), gravy and a salad.

Let’s get into it!

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• Zest of two lemons

• Two lemons

• One teaspoon of butter

• Half a teaspoon of salt

Method

1. Clean the chicken and butterfly it by removing its backbone. Cut on both sides of the spinal cord starting from the rear of the chicken to the neck. After removing the backbone lay the chicken into a flat butterfly position.

2. In a clean bowl squeeze and juice the halved lemons

3. Add the black pepper, lemon zest and salt to the lemon juice

4. Stir the marinade to combine.

5. Make small cuts on the chicken to allow the marinade to permeate throughout the whole chicken.

6. Generously apply the marinade to the chicken.

7. Let the chicken marinate for two hours.

8. Preheat oven to 180°C.9. Grill the chicken for 30 minutes10. Raise oven temperature to 200°C

9. Grill the chicken for 30 minutes

10. Raise oven temperature to 200°C

11. Grill the chicken for another 15 minutes so as to crisp up the skin

12. Take the chicken drippings, add butter and reduce on low heat until the sauce slightly thickens.

13. Glaze the chicken with reduced sauce.

14. Garnish with lemon zest and fresh lemon slices.

ENJOY!

Mahitaji

Kuku Mzima, Pilipili Manga Iliyosagwa Kijiko cha Chai, Maganda ya Malimao Mawili Yaliyokwanguliwa, Malimao Mawili, Siagi Kijiko cha Chai na Chumvi Nusu Kijiko cha Chai.

Muda wa Maandalizi: Dakika 15 Muda wa Kupika: Dakika 45

Mbinui

• Muoshe Kuku na kumtoa uti wa mgongo kwa kuukata pande zote mbili kuanzia kwenye makalio mpaka kwenye shingo.

• Ndani ya bakuli safi kamua malimao.

• Kwenye maji ya limao weka pilipili manga, maganda ya malimao na chumvi.

• Koroga viuongo vichanganyike vizuri.

• Muwekee kuku mikato kidogo kwenye Ngozi na nyama ili kuhakikisha viungo vinaingia mpaka ndani.

• Mpake kuku viungo vya kutosha.

• Acha kuku akae na viungo kwa masaa mawili.

• Weka joto la 180°C kwenye oven.

• Mchome kuku kwenye oven kwa dakika 30.

• Ongeza joto mpaka 200°C.

• Mchoma kuku kwa dakika 15 ili kumkausha ngozi.

• Chukua mchuzi uliotoka wakati unamchoma kuku (utakua kwenye chombo ulichoweka chini ya kuku wakati unamchoma), weka siagi na uupike kwenye moto mdogo mpaka uwe mzito kiasi.

• Mpake kuku huo mchuzi.

• Pendezesha kuku wako kwa kutumia maganda ya limao na slesi za limao.