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Nando’s Portuguese Chicken and Rice

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Nando’s Portuguese Chicken and Rice is a bold, spicy dish featuring juicy marinated chicken and flavorful seasoned rice. Inspired by the famous peri-peri chicken, it’s a restaurant-quality meal that’s easy to make at home.

Ingredients

  • For the chicken marinade:
  • 1.5 lbs chicken thighs or drumsticks (bone-in or boneless)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons peri-peri sauce or chopped red chili
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • For the rice:
  • 1 cup long grain or basmati rice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups chicken broth or water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Blend olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, chili or peri-peri sauce, paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper to make the marinade.
  2. Coat chicken with marinade, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  3. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
  4. Cook chicken for 25–30 minutes until fully cooked and slightly charred (flip halfway if grilling).
  5. Meanwhile, heat oil in a saucepan. Sauté onion and garlic until soft.
  6. Add rice, paprika, turmeric, and bay leaf. Stir for 1 minute.
  7. Pour in broth, bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15–18 minutes until rice is tender.
  8. Let rice rest for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
  9. Serve chicken over rice and garnish with parsley or lemon wedges.

Notes

  • Use boneless chicken for quicker cooking.
  • Increase chili or peri-peri sauce for more heat.
  • Grill chicken over charcoal for extra smokiness.
  • Add peas or roasted peppers to rice for variation.
  • Freeze cooked chicken separately for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipesbyliza.com/nandos-portuguese-chicken-and-rice/