Gallina en Salsa de Cacahuete (Chicken in Peanut Sauce)
Local name: Gallina en salsa de cacahuete
In short: Chicken browned, then simmered in a thick peanut sauce with onion, tomato, ginger and chili until tender and richly coated. It takes about 1 h 30 min in total and makes 5 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 10 min
- Total
- 1 h 30 min
- Servings
- 5
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 520 kcal
Peanut sauce is one of the most widely cooked sauces in Equatorial Guinea, used for chicken, goat and fish alike. Ground peanuts are loosened with water and simmered with onion, tomato and chili until the sauce thickens and darkens, and the oil rises to the surface. Chicken is the easiest place to start. Serve it with boiled cassava, plantain or rice, anything that can catch the sauce.
Instructions
- Season the chicken with the salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil in a wide, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken in two batches, about 4 minutes per side. Set it aside.
- In the same pot, cook the onions over medium heat for 6 minutes, until soft. Stir in the garlic and ginger for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, until soft.
- Whisk the peanut butter with 250 ml (1 cup) of the hot water in a bowl until smooth. Pour it into the pot with the remaining 500 ml (2 cups) hot water and stir well.
- Return the chicken to the pot and add the chili. Bring to a simmer, partly cover and cook for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring from the bottom every 10 minutes, until the chicken is very tender (at least 74°C/165°F) and the sauce is thick with reddish oil on top.
- Taste and adjust the salt. Serve hot over boiled cassava, plantain or rice.
Tips
- Stir the sauce from the bottom as it cooks. Peanut sauces catch and scorch easily, so keep the heat low.
- Use goat or firm fish steaks in the same sauce. Goat needs about 1 1/2 hours of simmering, while fish only needs 10 minutes at the end.
Questions and answers
Can I use ground peanuts instead of peanut butter?
Yes. Grind 150 g (1 cup) roasted unsalted peanuts to a fine paste in a food processor, then whisk it with the water. The sauce tastes slightly lighter than one made with peanut butter.
Can I freeze chicken in peanut sauce?
Yes, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently with a splash of water, since the sauce thickens as it sits.
Is this dish spicy?
A whole chili gives mild to medium heat. Burst it for a hotter sauce, or leave it out and serve hot sauce on the side.
How long does it take to make Gallina en Salsa de Cacahuete (Chicken in Peanut Sauce)?
About 1 h 30 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Gallina en Salsa de Cacahuete (Chicken in Peanut Sauce)?
About 520 kcal per serving, with 30 g of protein, 9 g of carbohydrates and 38 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 520 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 9 g |
| Fat | 38 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 560 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
