Frango a passarinho
Fried chicken pieces with garlic
Frango a passarinho: small fried chicken pieces with lime, garlic and golden fried garlic chips, a boteco classic
Chopped into bite-sized, bird-sized pieces, which is where the name comes from, this fried chicken is the dish Brazilians order by the plate in botecos from Belo Horizonte to Porto Alegre, usually with cold beer and plenty of napkins. The bone-in pieces soak in lime and garlic, are dusted in cornflour and fried until the skin crackles, then are buried under a shower of crisp fried garlic and parsley. Chef's tip: fry the garlic slices on a low heat and pull them out the moment they turn pale gold, as they keep darkening off the heat.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 6 cloves garliccrushed
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 4 tbsp cornflour
- 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying
For the topping
- 8 cloves garlicthinly sliced
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp fresh parsleychopped
- 4 lime wedges (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toss the 2 ¼ lb chicken wings and thighs, chopped into small bone-in pieces with the 3 tbsp lime juice, 6 cloves garlic, 1 ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
30 minStep 2: Pat the pieces dry and toss them in the 4 tbsp cornflour until lightly coated.
3 minStep 3: Heat the 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying to 350°F. Fry the chicken in 2 batches for 12–14 minutes, turning, until deep golden and crisp. Oil that is too hot is the classic mistake: the outside browns while the meat by the bone stays raw. The chicken is done at 165°F next to the bone, with clear juices.
28 minStep 4: Meanwhile, warm the 8 cloves garlic in the 4 tbsp vegetable oil over a low heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring, until pale gold. Lift out with a slotted spoon onto kitchen paper.
4 minStep 5: Pile the chicken on a platter, scatter over the fried garlic and 2 tbsp fresh parsley and serve with 4 lime wedges.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 38 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 37 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does frango a passarinho take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of lime juice?
- Lemon juice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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