A low fat version of spicy piri piri chicken recipe that brings back memories of our holiday in Portugal. Rich and flavoursome with lower calories as baked rather than fried and skin removed.

Portuguese Chicken with Piri Piri Style Sauce

A low fat version of spicy piri piri chicken that brings back memories of our holiday in Portugal. Rich and flavoursome with lower calories as baked rather than fried.

A low-fat version of spicy piri piri chicken recipe that brings back memories of our holiday in Portugal. Rich and flavoursome with lower calories as baked rather than fried and skin removed.

Once we hit the beginning of February, we’ve already shrugged off the heady festivities of Christmas, and it’s chocolate filled all day pyjama wearing sessions, I am looking forward to the tale-tale signs of spring.  I get a burning need to clean everything (don’t worry it soon passes) and declutter and paint everything white (again it soon passes).  But mostly I start thinking of summer holidays and discovering new food and flavour combinations, in fact, everything new.  Bring on the newness of everything.

A low-fat version of spicy piri piri chicken recipe that brings back memories of our holiday in Portugal. Rich and flavoursome with lower calories as baked rather than fried and skin removed.

Last summer we holidayed in Portugal and every restaurant featured piri piri flavoured dishes on their menus.  I became a little obsessed in finding the right combination: not too hot, not too mild, just right.  I think with the dish below I got it just right.

We also drank rather a lot of White Port and Tonics which will always remind me of our trip to Lisborn midway through our holiday. 

Normaly Piri Piri chicken is cooked with the skin on and although this is delicious, I wanted to cook a lower fat version, which we happily ate cold the next day.  Perfect for lazy slow days in a villa with the only jobs to do were which book to read by the pool.  Now tell me you’re not ready to hit the new season and embrace the newness.

Portuguese Chicken with Piri Piri Style Sauce
(serves 4)

2 large onions, chopped
2 lemons
4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
½ teaspoon piri piri sauce or Tabasco
Pinch of sea salt
Parsley, chopped

Place the onions on the bottom of a large ovenproof dish, cut up one of the lemons, and add.  This will act as a base for the chicken.

Place the chicken over the onion and lemon mix. 

Zest and juice the remaining lemon.

Mix together the garlic, oil, smoked paprika, piri piri sauce, salt, lemon zest, juice, and pour over the chicken.  Massage into the chicken.

Sprinkle over some parsley, keeping some for the end and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes at 180°C/Gas Mark 4/356 °F.

Serve with roasted red peppers and potatoes.

A low-fat version of spicy piri piri chicken recipe that brings back memories of our holiday in Portugal. Rich and flavoursome with lower calories as baked rather than fried and skin removed.

 

43 Comments

  • Reply Jane 5th February 2018 at 8:35 am

    Looks delicious – roll on spring! By the way, where did you get those lovely serving spoons – are they ceramic heads or silicone?

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 6th February 2018 at 9:30 pm

      They were at the holiday villa, aren’t they great. In fact everything in that villa was great!

  • Reply Nellwyn 5th February 2018 at 9:01 pm

    This looks so yummy and I love that it’s a lower fat version of the traditional recipe. I’ll have to put this in my meal plan for next week.

  • Reply C-Ludik 6th February 2018 at 2:55 pm

    I’ve never been to Portugal but I would love to 🙂 and not only for the delicious food ! Generally, I do not like spicy food so I will probably decrease the amount of piri piri sauce to only 1/3 spoon. Love your photos… Just looking at them… Now I get my mouth watering 🙂

  • Reply Dannii 6th February 2018 at 3:43 pm

    This is always a favourite in our house and so many things you can serve it with too. We make our own really easy peri peri sauce too.

  • Reply Melanie williams 6th February 2018 at 4:25 pm

    Love the pictures reminds me of summer bbq and I love the look of your lovely dish – great to share with family and friends x

  • Reply Jewish Chick 6th February 2018 at 5:13 pm

    This recipe looks amazing! I haven’t had lunch yet today and am salivating over this!

  • Reply Nicole 6th February 2018 at 10:00 pm

    The sauce and flavors sound amazing! I’m veg and I’m wondering if I can make this work with tempeh!

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 7th February 2018 at 7:50 pm

      Oh yes that would be a great alternative!

  • Reply serena hale 7th February 2018 at 2:16 am

    I have heard that piri piri sauce is tops. The recipe looks so good and easy.

  • Reply Makeup Discourse 7th February 2018 at 9:21 am

    I substitute cauliflower as a vegan, and I love cauliflower wings. I’ll try this version this weekend. Your pictures are lively!

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 7th February 2018 at 7:49 pm

      Oh my that sounds delicious!

  • Reply Gerome of G&D Blog 7th February 2018 at 6:35 pm

    Summer is coming! And this dish looks delicious to have for lunch on the poolside. I like dishes like this during summer, need some little spice to enjoy the meal with your family and friends.

  • Reply Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie 8th February 2018 at 4:17 pm

    Yes!!! I am such a fan of Piri Piri chicken…it works so well. I do mine in the oven like you…but I must confess I always leave the skins on…it’s the best bit!! 😀 Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Eb x

  • Reply Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food 8th February 2018 at 8:35 pm

    How gorgeous is this?! I love piri piri sauce, but I rarely make it because of all the oil involved. I’m so glad to see that you’ve lightened it up! Portugal is on my bucket list, but for now I’ll enjoy the flavors in this fantastic chicken!

  • Reply Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery 10th February 2018 at 7:10 am

    Oooh yum! That looks amazing & has gone on our list for summer evening allotment picnics as I reckon this would be perfect for enjoying in the sunshine!

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 10th February 2018 at 5:47 pm

      Oh yes I’m loving the sound of allotment picnics x

  • Reply fiona 19th February 2018 at 8:11 am

    I’ve been to Portugal but was just saying this weekend I really need to go! Love Piri Piri and the idea of the only job being reading by the pool sounds dreamy to me. Time to get inspired and make this recipe!

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 22nd February 2018 at 6:30 am

      Oh Fiona that holiday was just the best. I so didn’t want to leave x

  • Reply JB 19th February 2018 at 8:48 am

    This looks easy and tasty I will mark this up to have a go at home.

  • Reply Corina Blum 19th February 2018 at 3:49 pm

    This looks amazing! I love piri piri chicken too and always bake mine in the oven as well. Yours looks so healthy with all that salad on the side too! I’m even tempted to alter my plans and make piri piri chicken tonight now – the plan is a stir fry but it could change!

  • Reply Mairi 20th February 2018 at 1:10 pm

    I love this recipe so much, I also love your photographs – capturing people eating and enjoying the recipe is super fun! All round great post.

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 22nd February 2018 at 6:29 am

      Aw thanks so kind of you. I love to feed people so i love to capture that in my photos too! X

  • Reply Bobbi | Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen 20th February 2018 at 4:13 pm

    I am the same when Spring rolls around. I actually started a bit early this year and just purged my closet. I may need to purge my shoes too 😧This chicken sounds delicious, full of flavor, and I love that it is baked!

  • Reply Nicole 20th February 2018 at 5:27 pm

    Your Piri piri chicken looks delicious and perfect on a bbq too! we like it quite hot – yummy!

  • Reply Helen 20th February 2018 at 7:50 pm

    I must make this for my husband – he loves anything with piri piri flavour on it!

  • Reply Laura Dove 20th February 2018 at 9:12 pm

    Oh yum! I love piri piri sauce, especially with chicken. It sounds delicious!

  • Reply Eileen Kelly 21st February 2018 at 4:44 am

    I love piri piri and this is an awesome recipe. I have got to try yours, the flavors are awesome

  • Reply Sonia Cave 21st February 2018 at 7:50 am

    This sounds delicious and looks yummy. A new recipe for me to try out and lift our spirits during this long winter!

  • Reply Sophie 21st February 2018 at 8:10 am

    This sounds just the type of food my family would like. Thanks for sharing -I’m going to try it. #bloggerclubuk

  • Reply Talya 21st February 2018 at 8:33 am

    Oooh I love piri piri chicken it makes me think of summer just thinking about it!

  • Reply Clare 21st February 2018 at 9:31 am

    That looks sooo delicious! Perfect summer food. I’m going to bookmark this and make it one day soon 🙂 #BloggerClubUK

  • Reply Kara 21st February 2018 at 10:27 am

    We have just got back from Portugal and loved their food. Definitely going to try and make this

  • Reply Laura - Dear Bear and Beany 21st February 2018 at 1:45 pm

    I love Piri Piri this looks delicious. We love Portugal, its a firm favourite for us as a family

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 22nd February 2018 at 6:27 am

      Oh yes Laura. I fell in love with the place. I found everyone so friendly too. X

  • Reply Kate 21st February 2018 at 3:51 pm

    Perfect timing with this recipe – I was literally just looking for a spicy chicken recipe for dinner tonight! This looks nice and simple, I think we’ll give it a try! The white port and tonics sound delicious too!

  • Reply Justine 21st February 2018 at 4:04 pm

    Fantastically easy recipe, that looks so yummy. I love Nandos, so if I can have piri piri chicken at home too, then that’s good enough for me!

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 22nd February 2018 at 6:26 am

      Thank you, gosh I do miss that holiday home I can tell you x

  • Reply Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy 21st February 2018 at 5:19 pm

    I LOVE piri piri. I have a bottle of sauce in the fridge that I use on EVERYTHING…you know like that Frank’s Hot Sauce commercial. This sounds delicious….you have my mouth watering.

  • Reply Cath - BattleMum 21st February 2018 at 10:26 pm

    I’m definitely trying this one at home (just pinned it too). As we’re now living in Portugal we eat Piri-piri chicken regularly in a restaurant near us but I want to try make it at home. So thanks so much for sharing this!

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 22nd February 2018 at 6:24 am

      You’re living in Portugal?! I’m so jealous!

  • Reply Emma 23rd February 2018 at 2:08 pm

    That sounds delicious. I know what you mean about this time of year, I have had a bit of a mad cleaning frenzy too! 😀

  • Reply Nadine 24th February 2018 at 7:13 pm

    Oh yummy! I will have to give this to my hubby so that he can make it for us. He loves cooking 🙂

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