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Meat, Africa and overseas

Boucané chicken with rice

Boucané chicken is a Creole style dish of chicken thighs marinated in smoked paprika, garlic, and lime, roasted then finished under the broiler, served with fresh sauce chien and rice. It serves 4, takes 90 minutes, is easy to make, and costs €3.20 per serving. The key to success is a good marinating time and that final blast under the broiler for smoky skin.

Tonight we play buccaneers with smoky Creole spiced chicken, sauce chien, and rice.

Boucané chicken with rice
Total time
1 h 30
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.20
Calories per person
600 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Boucané chicken gets its name from a Caribbean smoking technique, recreated here simply with smoked paprika and a few minutes under the broiler. The skin turns deep golden, almost charred in spots, while the meat stays juicy thanks to the lime and garlic marinade. Sauce chien, a fresh and spicy herb sauce with scallions and parsley, wakes up every bite.

This is a great dish for a Sunday or a summer weeknight when you want something different without firing up a grill. Kids tend to love the plain chicken with rice, while adults can spoon extra sauce chien on top for heat. Just plan ahead for the marinating time in your day.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 8

Pantry

  • Smoked paprikaoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Riceoften in the pantry 280 g
  • Oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Thyme 3 sprigs
  • Lime 2
  • Scallions 4
  • Chile pepper 1
  • Parsley 1 sprigs

The step by step recipe

  1. Mix the chicken with the smoked paprika, pressed garlic, thyme, the juice of one lime, salt, and pepper, then let it marinate. 30 min

    The longer the marinade sits, the more flavorful the chicken gets, overnight in the fridge is ideal.

  2. Roast the chicken in the oven at 200 degrees, basting it with the marinade. 45 min

    Flip the thighs halfway through cooking for golden skin on both sides.

  3. Make the sauce chien by mixing the sliced scallions, chopped chile, parsley, garlic, the juice of the other lime, and three tablespoons of oil.

    Chop the chile finely so it blends better into the sauce.

  4. Cook the rice in salted water while the chicken roasts. 11 min

    A bit of butter in the pot gives the rice more flavor.

  5. Broil the chicken for a few minutes to smoke the skin, then serve it with the sauce chien. 5 min

    Watch the skin closely, it can char in just a few seconds.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pat the chicken thighs dry before marinating them, the skin crisps up better in the oven that way.
  • Make the sauce chien right before serving, it loses its freshness if it sits too long in the fridge.
  • If your oven doesn't have a broiler setting, finish the chicken a few minutes at very high heat, watching the skin closely.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken thighs for boneless thighs for a faster cook time and easier carving.
  • For a vegetarian version, marinate eggplant slices the same way and roast them in the oven.
  • For kids, serve the chicken without chile in the sauce chien and offer plain rice on the side.

What to serve it with

  • White or coconut rice
  • Avocado and tomato salad
  • Cold lemonade

Storage

Boucané chicken keeps 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well once cooked, thaw it in the fridge before reheating in the oven. Sauce chien is best made fresh and only keeps about a day in the fridge.

Questions about this dish

Can you make boucané chicken ahead of time?

Yes, you can marinate the chicken the day before and even cook it in advance. Reheat it in the oven and finish under the broiler to bring back that slightly smoky skin.

Can you replace the smoked paprika?

Smoked paprika is the key ingredient that gives this dish its boucané flavor, so it's hard to truly replace. If you're out, use sweet paprika with a pinch of Espelette pepper to get close.

Does sauce chien freeze well?

No, sauce chien is a fresh mix of raw herbs and onions, so it doesn't freeze well. Make it right before serving to keep its crunch and freshness.

How do you adapt this recipe for kids?

Leave the chile out of the sauce chien or serve it on the side so everyone can add their own amount. Chicken marinated in smoked paprika stays mild and kids usually enjoy it.

How long does it take to make a smoky boucané chicken with sauce chien and rice?

Count 1 h 30 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a smoky boucané chicken with sauce chien and rice?

About 600 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a smoky boucané chicken with sauce chien and rice cost?

About €3.20 per serving, or €12.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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