Português Plano de frango (Portuguese Flattened Chicken)

Portugal has played a huge roll in the development of many countries in Africa and today the best of those influences has survived to become interwoven in the society of modern Africa today. The food of a country is one such area that the Portuguese culinary influences have come to bear and like the Malaysian influence’s in the Cape have become very endeared to the peoples of our wonderful country. Therefore the Klutz has decided, with this recipe to pay homage to our historical culinary heritage of Portuguese cooking which remains and plays a major roll in Cape Town’s culinary tradition. For our Português Plano de frango wash the hands do the prep and get ready to cook. It is easier if one gets an already spatchcocked (flat) chicken, but if one insists and wants to do it oneself then get a whole bird lay it on its back, breast side up then cut through it so that chicken can be opened out flat. Comer bem, desfrutar de uma refeição.

Português Plano de frango (Portuguese Flattened Chicken)

Cooking and Prep Time around 40 minutes

Ingredients

1 Medium spatchcocked Chicken

4 large cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon of coarse salt

1 teaspoon Coarse ground black pepper

Juice of two lemons

Half cup of dry white wine

Half cup olive oil

Good quality ground red chili

Method

Put the juice, garlic, chilli, salt, pepper, oil, and wine in a food processor and pulse.

Pour the mixture over the chicken in a roasting pan.

Cover with foil and roast for 35 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Remove from oven, strain liquid and thicken by reduction in pot on top of stove.

Meanwhile crisp the chicken up on slow open fire or under grill of stove if one is not braaing (barbecuing) over an open fire.

Baste liberally with thickened sauce before serving.

Serve with good savoury rice, vinaigrette dressed salad, chips or baked potato and a mixed green salad.