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Chicken Yassa

A classic West African dish featuring tender chicken marinated in fresh lemon juice, mustard, and garlic, then simmered with a mound of caramelized onions.

65 minMediumServes 4450 cal/serving

West AfricanDinnerStovetopHigh ProteinLow CarbGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeSoy-FreeEgg-FreeShellfish-FreeSesame-FreeAlcohol-Free

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, patted dry
  • 4 yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 habanero pepper, halved
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

  1. 1

    Whisk 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 6 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1 halved habanero pepper together in a bowl.

  2. 2

    Toss 3 lbs patted dry bone-in skin-on chicken thighs and 4 thinly sliced yellow onions with the marinade and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

  3. 3

    Remove bone-in skin-on chicken thighs from the bowl, shaking off excess marinade and yellow onions.

  4. 4

    Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat and sear bone-in skin-on chicken thighs for 5 minutes per side until deeply browned, then set aside.

  5. 5

    Add reserved yellow onions and remaining marinade to the skillet, cooking for 15 minutes until softened and deeply caramelized.

  6. 6

    Pour in 1 cup chicken broth and return bone-in skin-on chicken thighs to the pan.

  7. 7

    Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.

Questions

How long does Chicken Yassa keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Can I halve or double Chicken Yassa?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

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