Peri-Peri in Portugal
Staying in a Portuguese Villa? Here’s a local BBQ Favourite…
Peri-peri chicken is 
probably the most famous of Portugal’s culinary exports. This spicy local dish hales from the country’s North African connection, and features an abundance of fresh hot chiles. But it’s also surprisingly easy to make – the perfect barbecue recipe to try your hand at.
You’ll find all the key ingredients at one of Portugal’s many local markets. And we’ve even translated the words you’ll need!
Peri-peri is essentially a marinade, and perfect for either chicken or prawns. You can experiment with any combination of the following ingredients to suit your own taste buds…
Mix together:
- Olive Oil (azeite de oliva)
- Lemon or Lime Juice (sumo de limão ou lima)
- Fresh hot chilli peppers (Pimentas malaguetas frescas), minced
- Garlic (Alho), minced
- Ground Coriander, cinnamon, and ginger (esmagados coentro, canela e gengibre)
- Fresh Parsley or oregano (Salsa fresca ou oregano), chopped
- Salt
(You can also try adding your own favourites such as bay, marjoram, raisins, thyme and tomato paste, or substitute the lemon juice for wine or balsamic vinegar.)
Once you’ve made your marinade, smother over either chicken or prawns (Frango ou camarão), and leave for at least one hour (ideally overnight).
Barbecue or grill until golden brown, then serve this deliciously tangy dish with plenty of sour cream, salad, and either rice or jacket potatoes. It couldn’t be simpler, or more authentic!
Bom apetite!
