THE GAMBIA: Chicken Yassa and Instant Pot Jollof Rice

Despite the monochromatic look, this meal was bursting with flavors. Chicken yassa is typically served over white rice, but I wanted to try an Instant Pot spin on jollof rice. In Gambia, jollof rice is often referred to as benachin, but as the latter usually incorporates meat, I was unsure the proper name for the meatless version. Thus perhaps the name is inaccurate, but either way, the end result was delicious!

Chicken Yassa

⅓ cup lemon juice

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup Dijon mustard

1 cube chicken bouillon

1 tablespoon black pepper

½ teaspoon salt

1 bay leaf

2 cloves garlic

1 fresh Scotch bonnet pepper (optional)

3 pounds skinless chicken leg quarters6 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken thigh

4 onions

1 whole lemon (optional)

1. In a bowl large enough to hold the chicken and onions, or a large Ziplock bag stir together lemon juice, oil, mustard, bouillon, pepper, salt, and bay leaf. Mince the garlic and add to mixture. If using the Scotch bonnet pepper, slice vertically and add as well. Place chicken into the marinade, and massage gently to ensure chicken is fully covered. Cut onions in half, then slice into rings. Add to the top of the bag or bowl. Place in fridge to marinate, 4-12 hours.

2. Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect grilling, lighting burners on one side only or pushing lit coals to one side. Heat grill to medium-high heat, ~400°F.

3. Remove chicken from bowl or bag and pat dry, saving the rest of the content of the bowl or bag. Place the chicken thighs on the hot, direct-heat side of the grill, skin-side down. Close the lid and cook for 4–5 minutes, or until the skin turns golden-brown and develops a good sear. Flip the chicken thighs to sear the other side over direct heat for another 4–5 minutes. Once seared, move the chicken thighs to the cooler, indirect-heat side of the grill. Place them skin-side up, close the lid, and let them cook gently. Continue to cook for another 10–15 minutes, flipping occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

4. When chicken is moved to the indirect heat cut the whole lemon in half, if using, grill lemon halves, cut-sides down, over lit side of the grill until grill marks appear, about 6-8 minutes.

5. While the chicken grills, pour the rest of the contents from the bowl or bag into a large skillet, set over medium heat. Sauté the onions, a few tablespoons of water if they start to stick. Cook over medium heat until onions just start to brown. Turn heat to low and keep warm until chicken and lemon are done grilling.

6. Nestle cooked chicken into onion mixture and serve with the grilled lemon halves.

Instant Pot Jollof Rice

1 large tomato, such as a beefsteak

1 medium red onion

1-2 habanero peppers, adjust to spice tolerance

2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes

½ teaspoon dried thyme

2 cups long grain or basmati rice

3½ cups chicken stock or vegetable broth

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon salt

1. Cut the tomato and ½ the red onion into large chunks and place in a blender. Stem the habanero(s) and add to the blender. Purée on high, until liquid.

2. Turn your Instant Pot onto sauté mode, medium if you have heat options. Add the oil. While it heats, chop the remaining onion into small dice. Add to the oil. Sauté for 5 minutes, until softened. Add the tomato paste and cook 2 minutes longer, stirring so it does not stick or burn. Add 1 cup of the tomato purée to the pot. If you have more than 1 cup of purée, discard the rest or save for later uses. If you have less, add water to equal 1 cup. Add the bouillon cube, crushing it as you add it to dissolve faster, and the thyme and stir.

3. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear. Add to the Instant Pot. Mix in the broth, bay leaf, and salt, stirring all. Follow your Instant Pots direction for rice cooking.

4. Scrape bottom of pot well, as there may be (delicious), browned, crispy bits and stir well, removing the bay leaf, before serving.

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FUN FACTS:

• The Gambia is known as, "the Smiling Coast of Africa," due to its friendly people.

• Gambians vote in political elections using marbles. Using a private booth, voters are presented with holes in the ground marked with each candidate. They then simply drop their marble into the hole they choose.

• The Gambia is one of only two countries in the world that has "the" officially attached at the front of its name. The Bahamas is the other.