Easy Chicken Yassa Recipe: Yassa au Poulet Chicken Recipe Is West African Comfort Food Poultry Dinner

Chicken yassa is a popular dinner dish from West Africa. Also called yassa au poulet, this flavorful chicken recipe is made with onions (lots of onions), lemon and mustard. Yep, there's tons of flavor in this succulent chicken dinner recipe.

Yassa chicken has French roots but was popularized in Senegal, where it is known as a traditional comfort food recipe. 

Loaded with caramelized onions that provide so much savory flavor, this easy chicken yassa recipe can be served over rice, quinoa or couscous to soak up the aromatic sauce.

Cuisine: African
Prep Time: 8 hours to overnight to marinate
Cook Time: 45 to 50 minutes
Total Time: 45 to 50 minutes plus time to marinate
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 - 6 bone-in chicken thighs 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Marinade 

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 yellow onions, rough chopped
• 8 tablespoons lemon juice
• 8 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard 
• ground cayenne, to taste

Here's how to make it: 

1. Combine all the marinade ingredients in a plastic zipper bag. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Add the chicken and marinate at least 8 hours or overnight.
2. When ready to cook, heat the olive oil in a skillet. Remove the chicken from the marinade (save the marinade!) and brown well on both sides in the hot oil. Remove to a plate.
3. Using a slotted spoon, remove the onions from the marinade liquid. Cook them in the same pan until they begin to lightly brown and soften, about 5 minutes.
4. Pour in the marinade and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
5. Put the chicken and drippings back into the pan. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes. You could also finish this in a 375-degree F oven for about 30 minutes. 

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