Poulet Nyembwe (Gabonese Chicken in Palm Nut Sauce)
Local name: Poulet nyembwe
In short: Chicken simmered in a thick, red-orange palm nut sauce with slowly browned onions, garlic, bay leaf and chili, the dish Gabon calls its own. It takes about 1 h 50 min in total and makes 5 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 50 min
- Servings
- 5
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 470 kcal
Poulet nyembwe is the dish Gabonese people most often call their national dish. Chicken, often smoked first, simmers in a thick red-orange sauce made from palm nuts, with onion, garlic, bay leaf and chili. Nyembwe is the Myene name for the palm nut sauce itself. The sauce is rich, a little bitter and deeply savory, and it is served with rice, plantain or cassava. Slowly browned onions balance the sauce, so give them time.
Instructions
- Season the chicken with the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a wide, heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown the chicken in two batches, about 5 minutes per side. Set it aside.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and add the onions to the same pot. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring often, until deep golden and sweet. Stir in the garlic for 1 minute.
- Add the palm nut pulp and the bay leaves. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until the sauce is warm and slightly thickened.
- Return the chicken to the pot and add the water. Bring to a simmer, partly cover and cook for 40 minutes, stirring now and then, until the chicken is very tender (at least 74°C/165°F).
- Add the whole chilies and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes more, until the sauce is thick and the oil collects on the surface.
- Taste and adjust the salt, and remove the bay leaves. Serve hot with rice, fried plantain or boiled cassava.
Tips
- If you can find smoked chicken, use it and simmer only 25 to 30 minutes. With fresh chicken, a pinch of smoked paprika added with the garlic gives a hint of smokiness.
- If the sauce tastes too bitter, let the onions brown a little longer next time, or stir in a pinch of sugar at the end.
Questions and answers
What does nyembwe taste like?
Rich, savory and nutty, with a slightly bitter edge from the palm nuts. Caramelized onion adds sweetness, and the chilies give gentle heat.
Where can I buy palm nut sauce?
African, Caribbean and some Asian grocery stores sell canned palm nut pulp, labeled sauce graine, noix de palme or palm soup base. Many online shops stock it too.
Can I freeze poulet nyembwe?
Yes, for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat gently with a splash of water, since the sauce thickens as it sits.
How long does it take to make Poulet Nyembwe (Gabonese Chicken in Palm Nut Sauce)?
About 1 h 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Poulet Nyembwe (Gabonese Chicken in Palm Nut Sauce)?
About 470 kcal per serving, with 23 g of protein, 12 g of carbohydrates and 34 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 470 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 23 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Fat | 34 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
