Second Spin, Country 174: Togo [International Food]

djenkoume flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: cornmeal

Whole wheat flour adds fiber while cornmeal is more accessible.

whole chicken

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Chicken breast is leaner, while thighs are often less expensive.

The night before cooking, prepare the seasoning marinade in a mixing bowl by combining salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger, and red palm oil.

Place the chicken pieces in a very large mixing bowl and pour the marinade over them, tossing and rubbing to ensure they are well covered.

Cover the bowl or place the chicken and marinade in a one-gallon plastic freezer bag and zip it tight. Allow it to marinate for at least an hour, preferably overnight.

On cooking day, heat a grill to medium heat or preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grill or roast the chicken, basting occasionally with the extra marinade and turning the pieces over until the skins are a rich deep golden color and the juices run clear, about 30 to 35 minutes.

Toss onion rings on the grill or in the baking pan to cook alongside the chicken.

In a skillet or saucepan, heat red palm oil over medium-high heat, then add garlic, ginger, and onion, sautéing until softened and fragrant, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Add in the canned tomatoes and tomato paste, stirring and adjusting heat to a gentle simmer, cooking for about 15 minutes until a thick sauce forms.

Remove one cup of the mixture to serve as a dipping sauce, then pour chicken stock into the remaining tomato sauce mixture.

Gradually whisk in the cornmeal, stirring until very smooth, and simmer for about 10 minutes until thickened.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: