Barbecue Piri Piri Chicken

Every town in Portugal, large or small, has a place where locals go for take out or a quick meal.

The barbecue chicken at Piri Piri on Herricks Road in Mineola, starts with small, young, kosher chickens, selected because they have less fat and the chickens haven’t been put on hormones, making them a healthier choice than older chickens. Jose Encarnacao who owns the restaurant with Rui Correia, prepares a special marinade (secretly!) for the chickens.

The Dish: Barbecue chicken at Piri Piri

What’s In It: One of the ingredients is a condiment called piri piri, named for a small, extremely spicy pepper. The chickens are butterflied, pressed in a grill cage and rotated slowly over red hot charcoal until cooked and browned.

How’s It Taste: The chicken, both the white and the dark meat, is moist and tender with just a hint of the piri piri. The skin is crispy and very tasty.

Sides: The chicken is brought to the table with fresh cut fries and a salad with a light vinaigrette dressing. For those who want some extra spiciness, a bottle of the piri piri sauce is available to sprinkle on the chicken.