VASCO'S AFRO-PORTUGUESE 

BUTTERFLIED CHICKEN

Big flavour, crispy char, juicy chicken. 

This is the easiest way to get that proper Afro-Portuguese style chicken at home.
Total cooking time: Approximately 30-40 minutes.

What You’ll Need

1 Vasco’s marinaded butterflied chicken

1 microwave-safe cooking bag or microwave-safe dish (for both cooking methods)

Oven with grill setting OR a BBQ

Small saucepan or pot

Serving dish

Tongs

Ingredients for the Finishing Sauce

• ½ cup Vasco’s Sauce (Zesty, Warm or Hot)

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 tablespoons water

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 2 tablespoons cream (optional, for a creamier sauce)

To serve:

• Juice of the second lemon

Step 1 - Pre-Cook the Chicken

1. Remove the chicken completely from its vacuum packaging.

2. Place the marinaded chicken into a microwave-safe dish or cooking bag.

3. If using a bag: using a fork or knife, carefully pierce the top of the bag about 6 times to allow steam to escape while cooking.

4. Place the bag onto a microwave-safe plate.

5. Microwave on HIGH for 16 minutes.

The chicken should be mostly cooked through at this stage (around 90% done). It will finish cooking later while getting that smoky char.

Carefully remove the bag from the microwave as it will be very hot and full of steam.

Step 2 - Make the Finishing Sauce

1. Pour ½ cup of Vasco’s Sauce into a small saucepan or pot.

2. Add:

   • butter

   • water

   • juice of 1 lemon

   • cream (if using)

3. Place the saucepan over LOW heat.

4. Stir gently until the butter has melted and the sauce is smooth and heated through.

Important:
Do not let the sauce boil. You only want it hot, not bubbling.

Once heated, keep the sauce warm on the lowest heat possible while you finish the chicken.

Step 3 - Char the Chicken

Choose your cooking method below.

Method 1 | Oven Grill

1. Remove the chicken from the cooking dish/bag and place it on an oven tray.

2. Put the tray under a hot oven grill.

3. Grill for 5–8 minutes per side, turning carefully with tongs.

Cook until the skin is slightly charred, golden and crispy.

Method 2 | BBQ

1. Remove the chicken from the cooking dish/bag.

2. Place it onto a hot BBQ.

3. Cook for 5–10 minutes, turning regularly to prevent burning and to get an even char on all sides.

The chicken is ready when the outside is nicely caramelised and slightly charred.

Step 4 - Finish & Serve

1. Transfer the cooked chicken to a serving dish.

2. Squeeze the juice of the remaining lemon over the chicken.

3. Pour the warm finishing sauce generously over the top.

Serve immediately and don’t be shy with extra Vasco’s on the side.🌶️

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