East African Kuku Paka (Print Version)
Spiced grilled chicken nestled in a rich, aromatic coconut sauce inspired by East Africa.
# Ingredients:
→ Marinade
01 -
1 full medium-sized chicken, skinless and bone-in, or preferred cut such as breast
02 -
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil or favorite cooking oil
03 -
1 teaspoon salt
04 -
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
05 -
1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
06 -
Juice of half a lemon (to clean the chicken)
07 -
1 tablespoon garlic, finely minced
08 -
1 tablespoon ginger, finely minced
09 -
½ teaspoon black pepper
10 -
1 teaspoon coriander powder
11 -
1 teaspoon cumin powder
12 -
½ teaspoon red chili powder (optional)
→ Coconut Sauce
13 -
2 tablespoons suitable cooking oil (olive oil, coconut oil, or preferred choice)
14 -
1 medium-sized onion, finely diced or julienne sliced
15 -
1 large bell pepper, chopped
16 -
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
17 -
½ teaspoon ginger, finely minced or crushed
18 -
½ teaspoon garlic, finely minced or crushed
19 -
1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
20 -
⅓ cup tomato paste
21 -
½ teaspoon salt
22 -
1 ½ cups canned coconut milk
23 -
½ teaspoon cumin powder
# Steps:
01 -
Clean the chicken with lemon juice or pat it dry. Cut the chicken into pieces, remove excess fat, and make slits. In a bowl, mix chicken with lemon juice, garlic, ginger, spices, salt, and olive oil. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for best flavor.
02 -
Preheat the grill to medium heat. Let the chicken come to room temperature. Grease the chicken with oil and grill for 5 minutes on each side. Flip every 5 minutes until cooked through, about 25 minutes. Set aside and cover with foil.
03 -
Heat a pan over medium heat, add oil, and fry onions until soft. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, salt, coconut milk, and lemon juice. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add bell pepper and coriander, cook for another 2-5 minutes.
04 -
Place grilled chicken on a plate, pour the hot coconut sauce over it. Garnish with coriander or sliced chili. Enjoy!
# Helpful Notes:
01 -
For best flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.