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Home » 1,000 Foods To Eat Project

Sunny and Delicious Senegalese Chicken Yassa!

Jul 22, 2021Last Modified: May 19, 2022

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the Senegalese dish called Chicken Yassa!

Chicken yassa consisting of chicken breasts and caramelized onions in a cast iron skillet
Jump to:
  • 1,000 FOODS TO EAT PROJECT
  • What Is Chicken Yassa?
  • The Method To Make A Most Delicious Poulet Yassa!
  • What To Serve With Senegalese Chicken Yassa
  • Some Other Dishes You May Enjoy!
  • Senegalese Chicken Yassa

1,000 FOODS TO EAT PROJECT

I am working my way through the foods that are listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. This is called my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. This Senegalese dish called Chicken Yassa (or Poulet Yassa) is part of food #51 in my Project!

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die Front Jacket
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

In this book, the author Mimi Sheraton lists her choice for the 1,000 Foods of the World that you MUST try. Senegalese Chicken Yassa definitely belongs on everyone's table it is absolutely delicious!

Please note: this is not food #51, but it is part the "Dinner in Senegal" section of the book. This section lists several Senegalese dishes which I look forward to experiencing as "food #51" and sharing here with you!

What Is Chicken Yassa?

Chicken Yassa, or Poulet Yassa, is one of the most popular dishes in Senegal and all of West Africa! This dish comes from the Casamance region of Senegal. It is influenced by French cuisine, as France had occupied Senegal for many years.

My version of this most amazing dish combines chicken along with sweet caramelized onions, fiery Scotch bonnet peppers, and tangy lemon juice. Just imagine these flavors all coming together with moist and delicious chicken, which is marinated overnight for increased depth of flavor!

The Method To Make A Most Delicious Poulet Yassa!

It's super simple to make a most delicious Poulet Yassa! The hardest part is caramelizing the onions...but even that is not difficult and just requires some patience.  😃 

You begin by making a simple marinade which consists of the following ingredients:

  • Thinly sliced onions
  • Sliced Scotch bonnet peppers (I like to add at least 2 to make it fiery hot!)
  • Lemon juice (for tang!)
  • Olive oil
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Then add thinly sliced chicken breasts to the marinade and allow to marinate overnight.

The next day you simply start by removing the chicken from the marinade and brown both sides.

Browning chicken breasts in a cast iron skillet with olive oil

Please note: for a more authentic and flavorful dish, it is recommended to grill this chicken over a charcoal grill! I am browning the chicken in my skillet for easier preparation.

Next, set the chicken aside and add the marinade to the skillet. This is where we need to exercise some patience.😊. It's time to caramelize the onions, which may take around 20 minutes or longer. You'll need to keep an eye on the onions and stir from time to time until you get them a nice brown color.

caramelized onions in a cast iron pan

Now, we add the chicken back to the onions, along with some chicken broth. Simmer for around 10 minutes until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Your Sunny and Delicious Senegalese Chicken Yassa is now ready to serve!

What To Serve With Senegalese Chicken Yassa

Chicken yassa served with rice with a lemon wedge and garnished with green onions on a white plate

Chicken Yassa is best served with heaps of white rice! Place the chicken on top of the rice, and then add heaps of the delicious onion mixture. Garnish with green onions if you like! One taste and you will understand why this is one of the most popular dishes in all of West Africa!

Enjoy Dinner in Senegal by dining on Poulet Yassa!

Some Other Dishes You May Enjoy!

West African Soupe Gumbo

West African Soupe Gumbo

How To Make Delicious Cajun Smothered Chicken!

Cajun Smothered Chicken in a cast iron pan

If you'd like to come along on this food journey with me, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Chicken yassa consisting of chicken breasts and caramelized onions in a cast iron skillet

Senegalese Chicken Yassa

Grace
This Senegalese Chicken Yassa is one of the most popular Senegalese and African dishes! Lemony and spicy, the chicken is full of incredible flavor and the caramelized onions add a lovely sweet touch to this dish!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Overnight marinade is highly recommended 12 hrs
Total Time 12 hrs 45 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine african, senegalese
Servings 4 servings
Calories 290 kcal

Equipment

  • cast iron pan is recommended or large skillet
  • grill (if you prefer to grill the chicken rather than pan fry)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb chicken breasts thin cut; if you have thick chicken breasts, you can slice them yourself to make them thin
  • 2 onions sliced thinly
  • 1-2 Scotch bonnet peppers sliced; you can add more if you like things spicy!
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil split
  • 1 inch ginger peeled and minced
  • 2-3 ts garlic minced
  • ½-1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 ts salt
  • 1 ts pepper
  • green onions optional chopped for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Combine the following marinade ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag: 2 tablespoon olive oil, the thinly sliced onions, Scotch bonnet peppers, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper and massage the marinade to make sure these ingredients are well combined. Add the chicken breasts, and then massage the bag again to make sure the chicken is completely covered by the marinade. Leave overnight in your refrigerator.
    Chicken, onions, garlic, ginger, and scotch bonnet peppers in a marinade in a plastic bag
  • Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your cast iron pan or skillet on med high heat. Once hot, remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, and brown both sides, approximately 2-3 minutes each side. Set the chicken to the side. PLEASE NOTE: FOR BETTER FLAVOR YOU CAN GRILL THE CHICKEN PIECES ON YOUR CHARCOAL GRILL!
    Browning chicken breasts in a cast iron skillet with olive oil
  • Keep the heat on med high for now and add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil. Add the rest of the contents of the bag (the marinade) to your skillet. You are aiming to caramelize the onions which should take around 20 minutes or so. After around 3-5 minutes, you can lower the heat to medium. During this process, stir every so often and keep an eye on the onions. You want them to brown, but not burn. If the mixture is getting too dry, you can add a little more olive oil.
    caramelized onions in a cast iron pan
  • Once the onions are caramelized, return the chicken to the skillet, and add 1 cup of chicken broth. Bring to the boil, and then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for around 10 minutes until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.
    Chicken with caramelized onion in a cast iron skillet
  • Your glorious Chicken Yassa is now ready to serve!
    Chicken yassa consisting of chicken breasts and caramelized onions in a cast iron skillet

Notes

Serve your glorious chicken yassa with white rice and garnish with green onions if you like!  
Enjoy this sunny, tangy, sweet, and spicy dish from the beautiful land of Senegal!

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 25gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 826mgPotassium: 567mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 67IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Chicken
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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