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Galinha Cafreal (Spicy Spatchcocked Grilled Chicken Cafreal)
Spatchcocked chicken charred over hardwood coals with a fragrant, pungent paste of green chilies, garlic, ginger, and fresh herbs.
The story
Originating from the Luso-African military interactions between Portuguese-ruled Mozambique and Goa, this dish became a fixture across Maputo and Inhambane for festive Sunday braais. Unlike red piri-piri chicken, authentic Cafreal relies on a vivid green marinade dominated by fresh coriander, mint, green peri-peri chilies, and whole warm spices. A crucial technical detail is basting with melted spiced butter only in the final stages of grilling to prevent the delicate green herb paste from scorching and turning bitter.
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