Koklo Meme (Togolese Grilled Chicken with Raw Chili Sauce)
Local name: Koklo meme
In short: Chicken legs marinated in lime, ginger and garlic, grilled until the skin is crisp, and served with a fresh tomato and chili sauce. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 420 kcal
Koklo meme is Togo's grilled chicken. Koklo means chicken in Ewe, and the dish is sold at roadside stands and bars, often cooked over charcoal. The chicken is marinated in lime, ginger, garlic and onion, then grilled until the skin chars and the meat is juicy. A raw sauce of tomato and chili, called yébéssé, is served beside it, with maize dough, fried plantain or bread.
Instructions
- Cut 2 or 3 deep slashes in each chicken leg. Mix the lime juice, garlic, ginger, onion, salt, pepper and oil, then rub it all over the chicken and into the slashes.
- Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Make the sauce: pound or pulse the tomatoes, onion, chilies, lime juice and salt to a rough, chunky paste. Taste and adjust the salt. Keep it cool.
- Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium. Lift the chicken from the marinade and shake off the excess onion.
- Grill the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, turning every 8 minutes, until the skin is charred in spots and the meat reaches 74°C (165°F) at the thickest part.
- Rest for 5 minutes and serve hot, with the raw chili sauce on the side.
Tips
- Keep the heat moderate. If the fire is too hot, the skin burns before the bone-in meat cooks through. Move the chicken to a cooler part of the grill if it flares up.
- No grill? Roast the marinated chicken at 220°C (425°F) on a rack for 35 to 40 minutes, then broil for 3 minutes for color.
Questions and answers
How spicy is koklo meme?
The chicken itself is mild. The sauce carries the heat, so choose the number of chilies to suit your taste.
What do you serve with koklo meme?
Akoumé (maize dough), fried plantain, rice or fresh bread. A simple tomato and onion salad also works.
Can I use chicken breasts?
Yes, but they dry out quickly. Marinate them for 1 hour and grill for 6 to 8 minutes per side until they reach 74°C (165°F).
How long does it take to make Koklo Meme (Togolese Grilled Chicken with Raw Chili Sauce)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Koklo Meme (Togolese Grilled Chicken with Raw Chili Sauce)?
About 420 kcal per serving, with 39 g of protein, 7 g of carbohydrates and 26 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 420 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 39 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
