In brief
- Galinha à zambeziana is a chicken marinated in garlic, chili pepper, and coconut milk, then grilled
- Origin: Mozambique, Zambézia province
- Key ingredients: chicken, coconut milk, garlic, chili pepper, lemon
- A grilled dish, served with rice
Origins and cultural history of galinha à zambeziana
Galinha à zambeziana, also called frango à zambeziana, is a grilled chicken marinated in coconut milk, garlic, lemon, and chili pepper. The dish takes its name from Zambézia province, in central Mozambique, known for its grilled chicken.
It belongs to the family of piri-piri marinated chicken found in several southern African and Lusophone countries, with the distinctive feature of adding coconut milk to the marinade, an influence from the coastal areas that grow coconuts.
What are the key ingredients of galinha à zambeziana
The marinade for galinha à zambeziana relies on a few simple ingredients, found in an African and Caribbean grocery store, including NKOSI.
- whole chicken
- coconut milk
- garlic
- chili pepper (piri-piri type)
- lemon
- olive oil
What to know about galinha à zambeziana
Galinha à zambeziana is a whole chicken marinated in garlic, lemon, piri-piri type chili pepper and coconut milk, then grilled. The dish comes from the Zambezia province in central Mozambique, known for its grilled chicken. The coconut milk softens the heat and thickens the sauce brushed over the chicken during cooking, and it is served with rice.
Frequently asked questions about galinha à zambeziana
What is the difference between galinha à zambeziana and classic piri-piri chicken?
Both dishes share the chili and garlic marinade, but galinha à zambeziana adds coconut milk to it, which softens the heat and thickens the basting sauce used during grilling.
Can galinha à zambeziana be prepared in the oven instead of on a barbecue?
Yes: traditional cooking is done on a grill or over embers, but an oven preheated to around 210 degrees gives a similar result, basting the chicken regularly with marinade during cooking.
Where can you find the ingredients for galinha à zambeziana in France?
NKOSI sells the coconut milk and the other dry ingredients for this recipe and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
