Published on . Updated on . By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. 20 Comments
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Poulet Yassa is a Senegalese dish made of chicken that has been marinated in a mixture of garlic, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and spices. It has become very popular throughout West Africa and in other parts of the world.
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The chicken is then cooked in a hot skillet with caramelized onions. Chicken broth is then added to the pot, and the dish is cooked until the chicken is tender. This delicious Poulet Yassa is so tasty and is sure to become your favorite African recipe!
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why you'll love it
- 💭 What is Poulet Yassa?
- 🧾 Ingredients Used
- 🔪 How To Make This Recipe
- 🥫 Storing and Reheating
- 💭 Tips and Variations
- 🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
- 👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
- 📚 Related Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
❤️ Why you'll love it
You will absolutely love the spiciness and flavor of this dish! The chicken is cooked to perfection, and the onions add a sweetness that takes this dish to the next level.
This recipe is perfect for those who love African food or want to try something new. You will absolutely love this easy chicken dish!
💭 What is Poulet Yassa?
Poulet Yassa, also known as Chicken Yassa, is a popular Senegalese dish made with chicken, caramelized onions, dijon mustard, and other spices. It has a tangy, smoky taste that is so finger-licking good!
The chicken is usually grilled, seared, or baked in the oven before sauteeing in a sauce rich in caramelized onions and other spices.
🧾 Ingredients Used
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- Chicken thighs: I prefer to use chicken thighs because they have more flavor. You can also use other chicken parts like chicken breasts or chicken legs.
- Olive oil: This will be used to cook the chicken and onions. You could also use avocado oil.
- Dijon mustard: This adds a great depth of flavor to the dish.
- Garlic cloves: I like to use freshly peeled garlic cloves, but you can also use pre-peeled garlic.
- Onions: You will need large onions for this recipe! I prefer to use yellow onions, but you can also use white onions.
- Lemon juice: This adds acidity and brightness to the dish.
- Chicken broth: This will be used to cook the chicken and add flavor. You could also use chicken stock.
- Spices: I like to use smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, and salt. You can adjust the spices to your liking.
🔪 How To Make This Recipe
- Wash and pat dry the chicken, then cut the onions and mince the garlic. Then, place the chicken in a large bowl.
- Add the garlic, onions, lemon juice, mustard, and spices. Mix together and place in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours or overnight. Take the chicken out of the marinade and scrape off the onions and marinade, but don't toss it.
- Add some olive oil to a skillet or large dutch oven and place the chicken on it. Brown it for 4-5 minutes on both sides on medium-high heat.
- Take the chicken out, add the onions, and pour in the remaining marinade. Cook on low to medium-low heat for about 10 minutes till it is caramelized.
- Add the browned chicken pieces to the sweet caramelized onions. Then, pour in the chicken broth and cook for 15-20 minutes, till the chicken is fully cooked. Taste for salt and adjust if needed.
🥫 Storing and Reheating
You can store this tasty dish in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Just be sure to keep it in an airtight container with a lid or wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
When you're ready to reheat, simply place the leftover Senegalese chicken Yassa in a skillet over medium heat and cook until heated through. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth if the dish seems too dry.
💭 Tips and Variations
- Try using a different type of mustard, such as whole-grain mustard or spicy brown mustard, if you do not have any dijon mustard.
- Add some chopped bell peppers to the dish for extra color and sweetness. For a kick, add fresh habanero pepper or hot chile pepper.
- You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less cayenne pepper to this chicken Yassa recipe.
- Be sure to brown the chicken nicely before adding the onions.
- Make sure to use fresh lemon juice for the best results. If you can't find fresh lemons, you can use bottled lemon juice or lime juice.
- You can try adding some other spices for added flavor, such as black pepper or bay leaves.
🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
This Poulet Yassa Chicken recipe is traditionally eaten with rice, but I eat mine with cauliflower rice since I'm on a low-carb diet.
It also pairs wonderfully with some delicious side dishes such as Keto Mashed Cauliflower, Air Fryer Green Beans, or some simple Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables.
👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
What Does Chicken Yassa taste like?
Chicken Yassa has a unique flavor that is tangy, sweet, and spicy. The chicken is usually very tender, and the onions are caramelized, which gives them a sweet taste.
Where is Yassa from?
Yassa is a dish that originated in Senegal, specifically from the Casamance region, which is in Southern Senegal. It is a very popular dish throughout Western Africa.
What is the most popular food in Senegal?
The most popular recipe in Senegal is thieboudienne, which is a rice and fish dish. Of course, Chicken Yassa is also a very popular dish, as well as Firire, Domoda, and other popular dishes.
Need more healthy African recipes? Check these out!
Chermoula Chicken
Ethiopian Beef Tibs Recipe
Nigerian Chicken Stew
Peri Peri Chicken Wings
North African Poached Eggs
Liver and Onions
Nigerian Banga Soup
📖 Recipe
Poulet Yassa - Senegalese Chicken Recipe
Poulet Yassa is a Senegalese dish made of chicken that has been marinated in a mixture of garlic, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and spices. It has become very popular throughout West Africa and in other parts of the world.
5 from 16 votes
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: African
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Marinate: 2 hours hours
Total Time: 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 403kcal
Author: Tayo Oredola
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large onions thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon bouillon powder
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
Wash and pat dry the chicken, then cut the onions and mince the garlic.
Place the chicken in a large bowl.
Add the garlic, onions, lemon juice, mustard, and spices.
Mix together and place in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours or overnight.
Take the chicken out of the marinade and scrape off the marinade and onions, but don't toss it.
Add some olive oil to a skillet or large dutch oven and place the chicken on it.
Brown it for 4-5 minutes on both sides on medium-high heat.
Take the chicken out, add the onions, and pour in the remaining marinade.
Cook on low to medium-low heat for about 5 minutes till it is caramelized.
Add the browned chicken pieces to the sweet caramelized onions.
Add the chicken broth to the hot pan, and cook for 15-20 minutes, till the chicken is fully cooked.
Taste for salt and adjust if needed.
Notes
This recipe serves 4 and contains 11 net carbs per serving.
- Try using a different type of mustard, such as whole-grain mustard or spicy brown mustard, if you do not have any dijon mustard.
- Add some chopped bell peppers to the dish for extra color and sweetness. For a kick, add fresh habanero pepper or hot chile pepper.
- You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less cayenne pepper to this chicken Yassa recipe.
- Be sure to brown the chicken nicely before adding the onions.
- Make sure to use fresh lemon juice for the best results. If you can't find fresh lemons, you can use bottled lemon juice or lime juice.
- You can try adding some other spices for added flavor, such as black pepper or bay leaves.
Nutrition
Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 1104mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 342IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
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Reader Interactions
Comments
MsMelva says
Your recipe popped on Google and for me the presentation drew me in. It look soooo good, however, I am a vegan and I use my homemade seitan instead of chicken. Let me tell , this recipe will now be one of my go to meals, although you have to wait for the dish to marinate, it is well worth the wait?? It was soooooo delicious!! Thank you for sharing!Reply
Tayo Oredola says
I'm so glad you made the recipe work for you!
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