Frango Assado

Name: Frango Assado
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 95 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mozambican
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, about 1.5 kg; 4 cloves garlic, crushed; 2 lemons, juiced; 3 tbsp olive oil; 2 tsp piri-piri sauce; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp oregano; Salt and pepper; 1 onion, quartered; Fresh rosemary sprigs

Frango Assado (FRAHN-goo ah-SAH-doo)

Roast Chicken with Lemon

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour 30 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 436 kcal

A whole chicken marinated in garlic, lemon, and piri-piri, then roasted until the skin is crispy and the meat falls off the bone.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 42.0g

Carbs 4.0g

Fat 28.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

roasting pan oven basting brush cutting board

Presentation Guide

Vessel: large serving platter

Garnishes: lemon halves, rosemary

Accompaniments: rice, salad, fries

Ingredients

1 whole chicken, about 1.5 kg
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 lemons, juiced
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp piri-piri sauce
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper
1 onion, quartered
Fresh rosemary sprigs

Instructions

1
Mix garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, piri-piri, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper into a marinade paste.
2
Rub the chicken inside and out with the marinade, stuff the cavity with onion and rosemary, and refrigerate for two hours.
3
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius and place the chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan.
4
Roast for one hour and fifteen minutes, basting every twenty minutes with the pan juices for a glossy skin.
5
The chicken is done when juices run clear when the thigh is pierced and the skin is deeply golden and crisp.
6
Rest for ten minutes before carving, then serve with pan juices spooned over, alongside rice and salad.

💡

Did You Know?

Mozambican roast chicken stalls, called churrasqueiras, are found on nearly every street corner in Maputo.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

roasting pan
oven
basting brush
cutting board

Garnishing

lemon halves, rosemary

Accompaniments

rice, salad, fries

The Story Behind Frango Assado

Frango assado is the quintessential weekend dish in Mozambique, a tradition inherited from Portuguese colonists but elevated with local piri-piri and bold garlic marinades. The churrasqueira culture, where chickens rotate on spits over charcoal, is a defining feature of Mozambican urban life. Every neighborhood has its favorite chicken vendor, and the competition for the best frango assado is fierce and never-ending.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed sunday lunch, family gatherings 📜 Origins: Portuguese-Mozambican tradition

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