Description
Poulet Yassa is a savory and tangy Senegalese chicken dish, featuring chicken marinated in garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and spices, then cooked with caramelized onions. This flavorful dish is a West African favorite that has gained global popularity for its depth of flavor. Perfectly paired with rice, this dish is an authentic and satisfying meal. #homemaderecipes #senegalesechicken #westafricanfood #yassachicken #africancuisine #spicychicken #chickendinner #comfortfood
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 4 chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp bouillon powder
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Wash and pat dry the chicken thighs. Cut the onions and mince the garlic.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the garlic, onions, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, and salt. Mix together and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight for maximum flavor infusion.
- Cook the chicken: After marinating, remove the chicken from the marinade and scrape off the marinade and onions, but set them aside (don’t discard).
- Brown the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet or large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken thighs on both sides for 4-5 minutes each. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Caramelize the onions: Add the sliced onions to the same pan and pour in the remaining marinade. Cook on low to medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, until the onions are soft and caramelized.
- Finish the dish: Add the browned chicken pieces back into the pan with the caramelized onions. Pour in the chicken broth and let the chicken simmer for 15-20 minutes, until fully cooked. Taste and adjust the salt if necessary.
Notes
- This recipe serves 4 and contains 11 net carbs per serving.
- If you don’t have Dijon mustard, try using whole-grain mustard or spicy brown mustard instead.
- For added flavor, you can include chopped bell peppers or fresh hot peppers like habanero for a spicy kick.
- Fresh lemon juice provides the best flavor, but bottled lemon juice or lime juice can be substituted in a pinch.
- Feel free to experiment with additional spices like black pepper or bay leaves to elevate the dish further.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1 chicken thigh with sauce)
- Calories: 403 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg