Galinha Zambeziana

Name: Galinha Zambeziana
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mozambican
Ingredients: 1.5 kg chicken pieces; 400ml coconut milk; 100g roasted peanuts, ground; 3 limes, juiced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 tsp chili flakes; Salt and pepper to taste; Fresh cilantro for garnish

Galinha à Zambeziana (gah-LEE-nyah zahm-beh-zee-AH-nah)

Zambezia-Style Coconut Chicken

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour 15 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 524 kcal

Chicken pieces braised in a rich sauce of coconut milk, lime juice, and ground peanuts, originating from the Zambezia province.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 38.0g

Carbs 12.0g

Fat 36.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

gluten-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ peanuts ⚠ coconut

Equipment Needed

large heavy pot mortar and pestle cutting board

Presentation Guide

Vessel: large clay serving dish

Garnishes: fresh cilantro, lime wedges

Accompaniments: white rice, salad

Ingredients

1.5 kg chicken pieces
400ml coconut milk
100g roasted peanuts, ground
3 limes, juiced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tsp chili flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

1
Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, garlic, and half the lime juice, then marinate for thirty minutes.
2
Heat oil in a heavy pot, brown chicken on all sides for about eight minutes, then remove and set aside.
3
Sauté onion in the same pot until translucent, about five minutes, scraping up browned bits from the chicken.
4
Return chicken to pot, add coconut milk and ground peanuts, stir well, and bring to a gentle simmer.
5
Cover and cook on low heat for forty minutes until chicken is tender and sauce has thickened considerably.
6
Finish with remaining lime juice and chili flakes, garnish with cilantro, and serve with rice.

💡

Did You Know?

This dish is considered the national dish of Mozambique and is a staple at weddings and important gatherings.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large heavy pot
mortar and pestle
cutting board

Garnishing

fresh cilantro, lime wedges

Accompaniments

white rice, salad

The Story Behind Galinha Zambeziana

Galinha Zambeziana embodies the culinary soul of Mozambique, blending indigenous African cooking with Portuguese colonial influences and Indian Ocean trade ingredients. Originating in the fertile Zambezia province, the dish showcases the country's abundant coconut palms and peanut crops. The combination of coconut and peanut creates a sauce of extraordinary richness that has made this dish an ambassador of Mozambican cuisine worldwide.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed sunday family lunch and celebrations 📜 Origins: Colonial-era Zambezia province

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