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Meat, Africa and overseas

Chicken bougna with yam and sweet potato

Chicken bougna is a New Caledonian dish baked entirely in a parcel, with chicken, yam, sweet potato and green bananas cooked in coconut milk. Made for 4 people, it takes 1h30 and a medium level of difficulty, for a cost of €3.40 per person. Success comes down to sealing the parcel tightly, which traps the steam and the coconut flavor all through cooking.

Tonight we're heading to New Caledonia with a chicken bougna, yam and sweet potato cooked in coconut milk, all wrapped in a parcel.

Chicken bougna with yam and sweet potato
Total time
1 h 30
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€3.40
Calories per person
630 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Bougna is the kind of dish that turns an ordinary dinner into something different. The chicken simmers slowly in coconut milk until it turns tender, the skin melting into the juices and flavoring the root vegetables around it. The yam and sweet potato soak up that coconut sauce while the green bananas keep a firmer, almost starchy bite that contrasts with the softness of everything else.

This is a Sunday kind of dish, one you can assemble calmly and then leave alone while it bakes. Opening the parcel at the table in front of everyone always makes an impression, the coconut smell escaping makes you want to dig in right away. Kids usually love the mild coconut milk and the tender chicken.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 4

Fruits and vegetables

  • Yam 500 g
  • Sweet potato 400 g
  • Green bananas 2
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves

Pantry

  • Coconut milkoften in the pantry 40 cl
  • Parchment paperoften in the pantry 1
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Peel the yam, sweet potato and green bananas, then cut them into large chunks.

    Rub your hands with lemon before peeling the yam, it can irritate the skin.

  2. Mix the chicken with the sliced onion and crushed garlic, season with salt and pepper.

    Keep the chicken skin on, it melts into the coconut milk and flavors the whole dish.

  3. On a large sheet of parchment paper lined with foil, arrange the root vegetables, bananas and chicken, then pour the coconut milk over everything.

    Put the hardest vegetables at the bottom, they cook best in direct contact with the heat.

  4. Seal the parcel into one large, tightly closed package and set it on a baking sheet.

    If you're worried about leaks, double up the foil, the juices shouldn't drip to the bottom of the oven.

  5. Bake without opening, then unwrap the parcel at the table in front of everyone. 1 h 10

    Open the package while stepping back, the steam burns much more than you'd expect.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut all the vegetables into roughly equal pieces so they cook at the same pace, with none of them staying hard.
  • Pick firm, still underripe green bananas, they hold their shape better during cooking instead of turning mushy.
  • Check the yam with the tip of a knife before serving, it should slide in easily without resistance.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken thighs for drumsticks or boneless thighs, the cooking time stays the same.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the chicken and add chunks of squash or green cabbage, the coconut milk flavors vegetables just as well.
  • For a quicker version, cut the root vegetables into smaller pieces, which brings the parcel cooking time down to about 45 minutes.

What to serve it with

  • Plain white rice
  • Lime wedges to squeeze over
  • Ginger infused water

Storage

Bougna keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well once cooled, in an airtight container. Reheat it gently in a pot or the oven, adding a splash of coconut milk if the sauce has thickened.

Questions about this dish

Can you use something else if you can't find yam?

Yes, you can swap it for cassava or more sweet potato. The flavor shifts slightly but the tender texture stays close to the original.

Do you need a special oven to cook the parcel?

No, a regular oven at 200°C works fine. What matters most is sealing the parcel tightly so all the steam stays trapped inside.

Can the parcel be assembled ahead of time?

Yes, you can put the parcel together a few hours ahead and keep it in the fridge. Take it out a little before baking so it doesn't go into the oven too cold.

How do you know if green bananas are right for this recipe?

Look for firm, unripe green bananas, usually found in the exotic produce section. They cook like a vegetable here, not like a sweet ripe fruit.

How long does it take to make a chicken bougna?

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

How many calories are in a chicken bougna?

About 630 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 chicken bougna cost?

About €3.40 per serving, or €13.60 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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