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Faro (Portugal)
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Main course
Meat
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
680kcal
45gProtein
3gCarbs
54gFat
1gFibre
350 gServing
* Per serving · 350 g. May vary.
Chicken Piri Piri
How to order / say it
Say it
Frango Piri Piri — [Frahn-go Pee-ree Pee-ree]
Order
I'd like the chicken piri piri, please.
Locally
Gostaria do frango piri piri, por favor.
Say locally
Spicy grilled chicken marinated with piri piri chili sauce.
Why try it?
This dish epitomizes the bold flavors that Portuguese cuisine adopted and adapted from afar, with the piri piri chili reflecting the influence of the former African colonies. A visit to Faro isn't complete without experiencing the fiery symphony of flavors in this dish.
How it tastes
The chicken is juicy and slightly charred, making it smoky with a complex heat from piri piri chilies balanced by citrusy notes of lemon. Its spiciness is a signature of Algarvian barbeque culture.
Origin & History — first documented: 1960
Piri piri chicken emerged in mid-20th century Portugal after the discovery of the African bird's eye chili, becoming a household favorite and a mainstay for BBQs across the Algarve region by the 1960s.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🥩 700 g chicken
- 🧂 5 g piri piri chili
- 🫒 50 ml olive oil
- 🍋 30 ml lemon juice
- 🧄 2 cloves garlic
- 🧂 2 tsp paprika
Method
- 1 Blend chilis, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and paprika to form a marinade.
- 2 Coat chicken with marinade and let sit for at least 2 hours.
- 3 Grill chicken over medium heat, basting with remaining marinade.
- 4 Cook for 30 minutes until juices run clear, serve hot.
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