Food and drink in the Algarve, Portugal

Modern and Traditional Portuguese Recipes -

Frango Algarvio: Chicken drumsticks Algarve style

Chef Peter is Swiss, he lives and works in Norway and everywhere he goes, he takes a keen interest in local dishes.  During his visit to Portugal in 2007, he took this traditional Portuguese recipe and developed it further. 

So here is.......Chef Peter's recipe for Frango Algarvio

which serves 4 

Ingredients:

1.2 kg chicken drum sticks

(if you can't get drum sticks use whole chicken legs & cut them in two pieces)

2 red sweet peppers (the long type - they have more taste)

2 green sweet peppers

1 celeriac

For the marinade:

3-4 garlic cloves

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

1 teaspoon dried red chilli

4-5 bay leaves

Pinch of sea salt

Juice and zest of 2 limes

Olive oil

Method:

Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F.

Make the marinade first.

Using a mortar, crush the garlic together with the black pepper, chilli and bay leaves. Add a pinch of sea salt and the juice from two limes. Blend the ingredients and add 100 mls of good olive oil. Put the chicken into a suitable bowl, pour over the marinade and leave for a few hours, turning the chicken occasionally.

Prepare the celeriac by peeling and cutting it into chunks.

Put the chicken on a baking tray or a terracotta dish and roast it for 30 minutes together with the celeriac and a few bay leaves.

Prepare the peppers.  Slice the red peppers in half lengthways and remove the seeds. Cut the green peppers into quarters or sixths depending on the their size and remove the seeds.

After 30 minutes add the rest of the ingredients into to the pan, stir a little and roast it for another 20 minutes.

Serve the chicken with rice or pan fried potatoes and a salad for colourful summer dish.

If you would like to know more about Portuguese Food and Drink, why don't you dip into our Restaurants in the Algarve section and our series of articles on Portuguese Wines and Ports.  We also feature other Traditional Portuguese Recipes and a glossary of useful Portuguese food & drink words and phrases