Spicy Grilled Pollo Piri Piri with Homemade Chili Sauce

Pollo Piri Piri: A Spicy and Flavorful Grilled Chicken Recipe

Category: Main Dishes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Piri Piri Sauce
   Start by washing the fresh chili peppers under running water. Pat them dry with a kitchen towel and place them on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut off the stem ends and slice the peppers in half lengthwise. Carefully remove the seeds from the inside with the help of the knife.

2. Blend the Sauce
   Transfer the cleaned chili peppers to a food processor. Add one peeled garlic clove and pour in the extra virgin olive oil. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice using a citrus juicer, adding it to the blender. Next, add the sweet paprika to the mixture. Blend everything together for a few seconds until the mixture becomes thick and smooth. Store the prepared sauce in the refrigerator until it’s time to use it.

3. Prepare the Chicken
   Take the whole chicken and place it on a cutting board. Cut the chicken in half by slicing through the breast, being careful not to break the bones. You can also use kitchen shears (trinciapollo) for this step if needed. Open the chicken as much as possible, using your hands to spread it apart.

4. Grill the Chicken
   Preheat a grill or cast-iron skillet. While waiting for the grill to heat up, brush the chicken with a little extra virgin olive oil to ensure it doesn’t stick. Once the grill is hot, place the chicken on it, skin-side down. To help the chicken cook evenly, place a weight on top of it. In this recipe, a cutting board with a pot of water on top is used as the weight. Grill the first side for about 20 minutes over medium-high heat.

5. Flip and Cook the Second Side
   After 20 minutes, flip the chicken using a spatula or tongs and cook the other side for another 20 minutes, still over medium-high heat, without applying any weight.

6. Apply the Piri Piri Sauce
   Once the second side is cooked, take the piri piri sauce from the fridge and brush it generously over the entire surface of the chicken.

7. Final Cooking
   Flip the chicken once more and continue grilling for another 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to glaze the chicken. This final step will ensure the chicken is fully cooked and infused with the spicy, tangy piri piri flavor.

8. Serve and Enjoy
   After grilling, remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes. Serve hot and enjoy your flavorful, spicy Pollo Piri Piri!

This recipe for Pollo Piri Piri is perfect for those who enjoy a spicy, smoky, and tangy twist on grilled chicken. The homemade piri piri sauce gives the chicken a fiery kick while keeping it juicy and tender. Serve with a side of fresh vegetables or a refreshing salad for a complete meal.