Description
Yassa Chicken is a flavorful dish featuring marinated chicken thighs cooked with onions, garlic, and a tangy lemon sauce, served over rice.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Cooked white rice (for serving)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs, sliced onions, minced garlic, lemon juice, vegetable oil, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using). Mix well to coat the chicken and marinate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, heat a little oil over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade (reserve the marinade) and sear the chicken thighs skin-side down until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Flip and sear the other side for an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, add the reserved marinade and chicken broth. Stir in the bay leaf and bring to a simmer.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, skin-side up, and spoon some of the sauce over the top. Cover the skillet with a lid or aluminum foil and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Serve the chicken over cooked white rice, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add sliced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the marinade.
- Substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts for a leaner option, but adjust cooking time as breasts may cook faster.
- Prep Time: 1 hour (or overnight)
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: West African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce and rice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 27g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg