Cooking with Colm O'Gorman: Spatchcock Piri Piri Chicken

Forget Nandos - this piri piri chicken is the real deal 

Piri Piri Chicken is a traditional Portuguese dish made with hot red chilli peppers, garlic, lemon or vinegar and herbs. While chilli is not often thought of as a traditional ingredient in European food, it was the Portuguese who introduced chilli peppers to Africa and India, having brought them from Brazil. Piri Piri chilli peppers are very like bird’s eye chillies, small and potent, they pack a real punch. In my recipe, I use larger red chillies as these are easier to get hold of locally. I roast the chillies and a red pepper for some extra sweetness and depth of flavour to my sauce. You can skip this step if you wish, but honestly, it is worth the little extra effort it takes.

A spatchcocked chicken will cook in around 35 to 40 minutes. I cook spatchcock chicken a lot, as besides being quick to roast, it is perfect for cooking with marinades or sauces as it absorbs lots of flavour while cooking.