Senegalese

Senegalese Chicken Yassa with Caramelized Onions and Lime

Chicken marinates with onions, citrus, mustard, chile, garlic, and ginger, then braises until the onions turn sweet, tangy, and sauce-like.

  • Adapted from Saveur, Senegalese yassa technique, and West African chicken braising traditions
  • Primary source saveur.com
1 hr 20 mins Medium cost Serves 4 to 6
Gluten-FreeDairy-FreeHigh ProteinHigh CarbMake AheadComfort Food

At a Glance

Time
1 hr 20 mins
Serves
4 to 6
Cost
Medium
Cuisine
Senegalese
Dietary fit
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Instructions

  1. Combine the onions, garlic, ginger, lime juice, vinegar, mustard, chile, black pepper, bay leaf, and a generous pinch of salt in a bowl. Add the chicken and toss well, then marinate at least 4 hours or overnight so the onions soften and the chicken takes on the citrus.
  2. Lift the chicken out of the marinade and pat it fairly dry. Brown it in the oil over medium-high heat until golden on both sides, then transfer it to a plate. Reserve all of the marinade.
  3. Add the marinated onions and their liquid to the pot and cook over medium heat until the onions collapse and begin to caramelize, 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Return the chicken to the pot, add the stock, cover, and simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes until the chicken is tender and the onions become a loose sauce. Uncover for the last few minutes if it needs to reduce.
  5. Taste for salt and lime, then serve over rice with plenty of onions spooned on top. The finished dish should be tangy, glossy, and onion-rich.

Adaptations

Works As Written
  • Gluten-Free: Works As Written Works as written; verify packaged ingredients as noted below.
  • Dairy-Free: Works As Written Works as written; verify packaged ingredients as noted below.
  • Vegetarian: Not Vegetarian Not adaptable; this recipe is built around meat, poultry, or seafood.

How to adapt: Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free as written. The dish is all about onions, citrus, and pepper, so it stays flexible with whatever rice you serve underneath.

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