Smoked Chicken (Gabonese Nyembwe Chicken)

Nyembwe chicken is the national dish of Gabon. Nyembwe means palm oil in the Bantu language of Myene. It is also the national dish of the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and Angola under different names. It also comes in a few variations in across Western Africa as well as Central Africa. It can be served with white rice, plantain, pounded yam or cassava. The chicken used in this recipe is often smoked.

1 smoked chicken, boneless
16 oz palm butter sauce graine
red palm oil
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed

Pour palm butter in a skillet. Add a glass of water and heat over medium heat.

Skim oil which forms at the surface after a few minutes. Continue to cook over medium heat.

Meanwhile, heat red palm oil in another pan.

Add the onion. Sauté for 6-8 minutes. Add garlic and chicken. Sauté for a few minutes. Add chicken to palm butter. Stir and continue to cook for a few minutes.

For the Fried Plantains:
Cut plantain slices of about ½" (1 cm) Deep fry in hot oil for 5 minutes. Turn over and continue to fry for 2-3 minutes. Arrange on a plate covered with paper towel. Salt right away.

Pounded White Yam (typical African side):
Traditionally, this is done by boiling yam and pounding for a long time while incorporating water to make a stretchy texture. I adopted the easy way out and I mixed pounded yam flour with water (which is probably what most Africans do today).

Makes 6 servings.