Botswanan Chicken in A Hole Recipe

Botswanan Chicken in A Hole Recipe

Chicken in a Hole is a traditional Botswanan barbecue method where a whole chicken is cooked underground. The chicken is wrapped in cabbage leaves and aluminum foil, then placed in a pit with hot coals to slow-cook to perfection.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Botswanan, south african
Servings 5
Calories 426 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Whole chicken – 1
  • Large garlic cloves, peeled and quartered – 16 pieces
  • Large onion, peeled and studded with 6 whole cloves – 1 piece
  • Cabbage leaves – 12 pieces
  • Chicken stock cube – 1 cube
  • Paprika – 1 tbsp
  • Mixed herbs – 2 tsp
  • Curry powder – 2 tsp
  • Dried chilli – 1 tbsp
  • Salt – 1 tbsp
  • Vinegar (for cleaning the chicken) – 2-3 tbsp

Instructions
 

  • To start, wash the chicken with water mixed with vinegar to ensure it is properly cleaned.
  • Make sure to pat dry all the cleaned chicken.
  • Insert and distribute the garlic cloves as evenly as possible between the skin and flesh of the chicken.
  • Pulverize the dried chillis, salt and all other spices using a mortar and pestle to make a paste.
  • Rub the paste all over the chicken and coat it evenly inside and outside.
  • Insert and stuff the peeled onion into the chicken until it reaches its cavity.
  • After that, get the cabbage leaves and wrap them around the chicken.
  • Use a cheesecloth or muslin to wrap it, then wrap it again using at least three layers of aluminium foil.
  • Botswana’s tradition is to cook the Chicken in a real cooking pit.
  • To do that, you should dig a hole that is about 90 centimetres deep and 30-45 centimetres wide. After that, get pieces of wood slats and cover the hole.
  • Then put the hot coals at the bottom that has sand sprinkled all over it. It’s now time to put the foil-wrapped chicken on top of the coals.
  • Make sure to cover the layer of coals with more sand to fill the hole completely and evenly. Before leaving it to cook and slow-roast for 3 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours, mark the cooking spot using a rock or a stick.
  • After 3 to 4 hours of slow roasting the chicken, dig it up and then make sure to shake the sand off.
  • Carefully unwrap the chicken and serve it whole on a platter.

Nutrition

Calories: 426kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 40gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 1608mgFiber: 8gSugar: 12g
Keyword Botswanan Chicken in A Hole Recipe
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Article Categories:
Around the world · South African Dishes

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