Hello my friends!
I hope that you are keeping well, but also keeping yourself informed of all that is happening in the world. I ended up taking some time off from blogging to educate myself on how I can help. I’ll be making a separate blog post about that, too, because while I love reviewing recipes, I will not stay silent about what is happening in the world. You simply cannot say “All Lives Matter” until Black Lives Matter.
Now, to talk about what we made this week…
I took extra time to explore different bloggers that I haven’t discovered yet. I’ll be honest with you, there are a lot of hidden treasures on the internet, you just need to know where to look. At this point I must be the Google search term queen for finding recipes!
Today’s recipe is for Peri Peri Marinated Chicken Skewers courtesy of Immaculate Bites. You can find the recipe right -> here!
If you are looking for an explosion of flavors, you’re going to absolutely love this recipe. I do highly recommend that you follow this recipe exactly. I’ll tell you why.
Should I Really Marinade in Advance?
Yes. I am nodding my head so much I feel my neck may be sore later, but–YES! There is something so absolutely magical about this marinade that it needs to really bond with the chicken. I had my chicken marinade in adobo seasoning and the peri peri marinade for about 24 hours. This definitely isn’t a dish that I’d recommend throwing together in 30 minutes after you come home from work. No…no…
The marinade itself can also be used as a sauce, so be sure to keep some leftover for dipping.
Speaking of making the actual marinade, Andy and I used a magic bullet to blend everything together. We did it in steps in order to fit everything. My favorite part was opening up the container for a taste test and watching it come together in phases. We blended up the onion, pepper, jalapeños, and then we added the olive oil and coconut milk. But it was when we added the fragrant additions, like basil, garlic, and even lemon juice that the sauce really wow-ed me.
I’ll make one note for myself, and also for you all–reference the recipes pictures for an idea of marinade consistency. We blended ours till it was SMOOTH. Don’t get me wrong, it tasted awesome, but just as a side note.
Imma, the author of the recipe and Immaculate Bites is absolutely correct in saying that Peri Peri sauce is extremely complex. There’s so many things happening when you get that first taste. It makes you stop and think of what it consists of, but also just makes your soul so freaking happy!
What Was That About Following Directions?
As many of you may know by now, I cook in a condo and don’t have access to a grill. I thought about using a grill pan, however I’d just smoke up the entire living space. Oh, how I wanted this peri peri chicken to get the respect it deserves, so I went for the next best thing.
Broiling.
The reason I said to follow the directions is because my attempt at this dish was DELICIOUS, but if you actually grill these skewers—I guarantee you that you may cry. This marinade combined with the smokiness of grilling, and that hint of beautiful char on the chicken? That sounds like poetry in a single bite to me.
Now, if you cannot grill outside or use a grill pan inside, you may use the broiling method. Just make sure that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F. Safety first, friends.
Prepping is the Key
A lot of recipes don’t take all that long to make when it comes to actually cooking, but it’s the marinading time that deserves its special moment. You wouldn’t get the same amount of flavor if this chicken marinaded for only 30 minutes. That is why I’d save this recipe for a weekend. However, you can definitely prep it in the evening and have it ready the next day, even on a weekday. Truth be told, that’s exactly what I did. I prepped my chicken on Sunday night and made it on a Monday. It was an absolute treat!
Grey’s Grade: 5/5
This recipe is one that you will want to add to your collection of weekend go-to’s for your summer BBQs. It’s bursting with flavor and doesn’t take long to make at all. You just need a little patience with marinating, but all good things come to those who wait, right? Exactly.
As mentioned, this recipe really deserves to be followed exactly to get the full effect, however if you lack some tools, you can still manage, I’m sure. I managed without a grill, so there you have it!
This peri peri chicken gets a full 5/5 from me, from my boyfriend, and even my parents who got to enjoy some leftovers!
Take a chance and cook outside of the box this weekend. You’ll be wow-ed by all the amazing flavors out there!
As always, happy nomming!
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