Nando’s Piri Piri Chicken
15 Aug 2012
I have been feeling really home-sick lately!! Partly thanks to the Olympics for highlighting how awesome London and English culture is, and also partly because this is the longest I have ever been away from home (About 2 1/2 years now) 
I really need to plan a trip to England SOON! But, until then–I thought I would make one of my favorite recipes from home, just to make me feel a little closer to it! This recipe comes from one of my favorite restaurants in Maidstone–Nando’s. I think it’s a south african chain… in fact, I know it is because one of my closest friends, who’s from south africa told me that once, and I thought it was really cool! They serve some of the best chicken EVER, so of course I had to know their secret.
I came across this youtube tutorial online for their piri piri chicken, so if you want to make it too– I highly suggest following their instructions rather than mine! This recipe was seriously amazing! Probably the BEST chicken I have ever made, ever! AND… to make it even better, it was one of the easiest things I have ever cooked too. I just mixed up the marinade and let it roast in the oven for an hour! I get so excited when I find recipes like this: utterly and totally fool-proof, yet to-die-for delicious!! Here is my written down version:
1 whole chicken
[for the marinade]
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
1 red Chilli Pepper, cut into 4 pieces
3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
bunch of thyme
generous pinch of salt
1/2 lemon
Directions: Preheat the oven to 200degC/390degF. place the garlic, red chilli pepper, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, thyme, and the juice of 1/2 lemon in a blender, and pulse until smooth
Here’s where the video might come in handy… spatchcock the chicken, (remove the spine by cutting either side of it, and then remove the diamond shaped breast bone), then lay the chicken in a roasting pan, facing down
Pour the marinade on top, rub more all over the chicken
Then bake for one hour. It should come out looking and smelling pretty amazing….
Serve with coleslaw, chips (fries), corn on the cobb… whatever you want 
Did I mention how much I LOVE this recipe!!! If you have never had Nando’s before, I urge you to try this recipe! You’ll love it. If you have tried Nando’s, and you love it as much as I do… now you know how EASY it is to make at home!
Either way, enjoy this recipe guys!
<3 Sarah
Aug 16, 2012 @ 02:59:05
I love making nandos for dinner n yes it originates from south Africa but the food is Portuguese! go u actually making the marinade I cheat n buy the bottle! N yes it has been way too long get ur butt back here mrs! Xxx
Aug 16, 2012 @ 12:27:35
That’s right! Well, that’s pretty funny–an English girl making a south african restaurants Portuguese food in America! Liane, I would probably cheat too if I had nandos stuff close by, but it really is SO simple, you should try this and see if you like it better! And I really DO need to come visit soon and see you and your sweet babies!!
Aug 16, 2012 @ 07:23:33
Hurrah! Thanks, lovely!
Aug 16, 2012 @ 12:38:55
You’re so welcome hun!
Oct 18, 2013 @ 06:31:15
Looks great. I love Nandos. But it’s not South African, it’s Portuguese! x
Oct 22, 2013 @ 08:27:27
You’re right, I totally knew that!! Thanks!
Jan 16, 2014 @ 00:49:39
Thank you so much for the recipe I will try mine lwatched the youtube
Mar 13, 2016 @ 09:26:40
The namdo’s company is south african based. And peri peri is not portugues…. its a blend between portugues cuizine and african cuizine…