Senegalese Chicken Recipe - Poulet Yassa

The pressure builds and you start counting down minutes until you eat. You can feel that valve hiss just as the sealing ring seals tight, and that little rush of steam makes you know something good is cooking inside. It’s kinda exciting cause each minute gets you closer to that tender pull of chicken that just falls off the bone.

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You might be pacing or staring out the window, but your mind’s cooking too, thinking about flavors blending deep in that broth. You imagine the punch of lemon sourness mixed with sweet caramelized onions and the subtle heat from habanero. It’s not just chicken it’s a whole flavor party that’s muscling its way into your day.

Then bam the pressure cooker times out and you’re ready to quick release that steam. That steam’s full of promise, the kind of promise that only a properly cooked Poulet Yassa delivers. As soon as you lift the lid, the smell hits you hard and you remember why y’all gotta keep this recipe in your dinner line up. It’s well worth the wait.

The Real Reasons You Will Love This Method

• You get that tender pull on the chicken thighs like no other way. The pressure cooker breaks down fibers fast.
• The broth depth is full-on rich cause all those lemony and savory juices get locked inside the pot.
• It shaves off cooking time while making sure you still get all those complex flavors soaked right in.
• Quick release means you don’t sit and watch forever. You get dinner on the table fast.
• You don’t need to fuss much. The pressure cooker kinda does all the heavy lifting so you can chill a bit.

All the Pieces for This Meal

• 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs – gotta have the skin for that crispness when browning
• 3–4 medium onions, sliced thin – these caramelize into the yassa goodness
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard for tang and flavor depth
• 2 lemons juiced – but use juice from 1 lemon if you want it less sour
• 3 tablespoons olive oil for marinade and frying the chicken nicely
• ½ habanero pepper, seeds removed and finely diced – adds just enough heat to keep things interesting
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic to get those savory vibes going
• ½ cup green olives, optional – brings a salty punch after cooking
• Salt and pepper to your taste, water as needed to keep things cooking just right

The Exact Process From Start to Finish

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Step 1 – In a big bowl, mix up your Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, diced habanero, salt, and pepper. This marinade packs all the flavors you want to soak into the chicken.

Step 2 – Add your chicken thighs to that marinade and make sure each piece is well coated. Cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Overnight is even better if you got the patience.

Step 3 – Heat up your pressure cooker on the sauté setting or a skillet if you do this outside the cooker. Take the chicken from the marinade and brown each thigh skin-side down till golden crisp, about 5–7 minutes each side. This browning adds a heck of a flavor layer.

Step 4 – Toss in the sliced onions right after chicken comes out and sauté ‘em till soft and golden brown. If they start sticking a bit, splash in some water to keep things from burning. Around 10 minutes should do.

Step 5 – Put the browned chicken back in with those caramelized onions. Pour in any marinade left and add water just enough to partly cover the chicken. Seal and set your pressure cooker to cook on high for 25–30 minutes. This is where that tender pull really starts happening.

Step 6 – Once timer’s up, go for the quick release on your cooker carefully watch that hiss. Stir in the green olives if you’re using ’em and let them heat through for a few more minutes. Boom, Poulet Yassa is ready when you pair it with rice or couscous.

Valve Hacks You Need to Know

• Wanna speed things up? You can start with a hot pot so your pressure cooker hits sealing pressure faster.
• Make sure your sealing ring is clean and well placed. A bad seal means pressure won’t build and y’all will wait longer.
• When quick releasing, use a kitchen towel over the valve to catch that steam hiss if you’re worried about splattering.
• If you want juicier chicken, add a little less water. You’re just after enough moisture not to burn, but not to stew forever.

When You Finally Get to Eat

You notice how the chicken just kinda slides off the bone with that tender pull. It’s juicy and bright from the lemon but mellow thanks to the caramelized onions.

The olives, if you used ‘em, pop a salty surprise that balances perfectly with the slight heat from habanero. You feel that sweet and sour thing working its way through every bite.

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The rice or couscous serves as a blank canvas soaking up all that broth depth you got from the pot. It’s warm, comforting, and hits that spot after a long day.

You take a minute just soaking it all in, the smells, the tastes, the warmth. Meals like this make you grateful for that pressure cooker and the effort you put in.

Your Leftover Strategy Guide

• Refrigerate: Put leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or microwave so chicken stays tender.
• Freeze: For longer storage freeze the chicken with sauce in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Pickle-ish: Mix leftover chicken with a small dash of fresh lemon juice and diced onions. Let it chill for a few hours for a zingy second meal that’s less stew and more tangy salad.

Your Most Asked Questions Answered

Q1 Can I use boneless chicken instead? Sure, but you might lose some of that deep flavor from bone-in pieces. Cook time gets shorter too.

Q2 How sour should my Yassa be? That’s up to you. Start with 2 lemons juice, if that’s too sour use just one. You’ll find your sweet spot pretty quick.

Q3 Do I have to use habanero? Nah, you can swap it for a milder pepper or leave it out. The dish still rocks.

Q4 Can I make this without pressure cooker? You can simmer on stove for longer but you lose that quick time and tender pull effect.

Q5 Why does my pressure cooker stew get watery? Usually means you added too much water or didn’t brown well enough for flavor. Try less water next time.

Q6 What do I serve with Poulet Yassa? Y’all can’t go wrong with plain rice or couscous. Both soak up broth depth real good.

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Poulet Yassa – A Wonderfully Sour, Sweet and Savoury Senegalese Chicken

A stunningly flavorful Senegalese chicken dish that's sour, sweet, and savory, made quick and delicious in a pressure cooker.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 4 servings

Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Pressure cooker

Ingredients

  

Main ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
• 3–4 medium onions sliced thin
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 lemons juiced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ habanero pepper seeds removed and finely diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• ½ cup green olives optional
• Salt and pepper to taste
• water as needed to keep things cooking just right

Instructions

 

Instructions

• In a big bowl, mix up your Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, diced habanero, salt, and pepper. This marinade packs all the flavors you want to soak into the chicken.
• Add your chicken thighs to that marinade and make sure each piece is well coated. Cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Overnight is even better if you got the patience.
• Heat up your pressure cooker on the sauté setting or a skillet if you do this outside the cooker. Take the chicken from the marinade and brown each thigh skin-side down till golden crisp, about 5–7 minutes each side.
• Toss in the sliced onions right after chicken comes out and sauté ‘em till soft and golden brown. If they start sticking a bit, splash in some water to keep things from burning. Around 10 minutes should do.
• Put the browned chicken back in with those caramelized onions. Pour in any marinade left and add water just enough to partly cover the chicken. Seal and set your pressure cooker to cook on high for 25–30 minutes.
• Once timer’s up, go for the quick release on your cooker carefully. Stir in the green olives if you’re using ’em and let them heat through for a few more minutes.
• Serve with steamed rice or couscous to absorb all that flavorful broth.
• Enjoy the delicious blend of lemon, savory onions, and spiced chicken!

Notes

Pair with rice or couscous. Store leftovers in fridge up to 3 days or freeze with sauce. Reheat gently to preserve texture. For a zingy leftover remix, mix cold chicken with fresh lemon juice and onions.