This is my copycat of the FAMOUS Nando’s Peri Peri Chicken Burger. It is my single most requested recipe. And it’s one of FIVE of my recipes being featured in this month’s Super Food Ideas magazine!!!
Nando’s Chicken Copycat – and exciting news!!
A few months ago, I got an email that I never dreamed of receiving.
{Abbreviated} “Hi Nagi. I’m Rebecca, the editor of Super Food Ideas, Australia’s top selling food magazine….I love the way you write – friendly, understanding and self-deprecating; and also your recipes are fab.
It got me thinking, is there some way that we could work together? I think your recipes would be perfect for my readers…..If you’d be interested in looking at possibilities, email me back or just give me a call on…”
I actually gasped out loud, jumped out of my chair, did a little jiggy and picked up the phone straight away. Then I put it down, took a few deep breaths to calm myself.
“Be cool, be cool,” I said to myself. “Be professional, don’t come across like a dribbling fool.”
Well, so much for the pep talk. I made the call, tripped over my words with excitement, was convinced the editor would never take me seriously, thinking I was just a blubbering, over excited foodie….
And yet, it happened. My dream, something I never even thought of as a possibility until years down the track, has come true.
My recipes are being featured in Australia’s top selling magazine, Super Food Ideas! And not just plonked in some dark corner. There’s a WHOLE SPREAD of MY recipes with MY photos, MY words, MY ideas!! EEK!!!
When I received the mock up of the layout of the pages in Super Food Ideas for my recipes, with full page photos, I almost cried. It looked so professional it was overwhelming, so humbling, beyond what I can describe.
Look! Here it is – here’s my feature in Super Food Ideas!!
Someone once asked me why I don’t do more commercial shoots for clients. “Commercial shoots” being packaged food or food other people prepare that I then shoot for ads and catalogues. And my response was this: “I want to photograph food I love. Because my passion lies in creating food that I think is so delicious, I want to share it. With my family and friends, and on my blog! And photographing the food I love, striving to capture what I love about it so much, that’s what gets my juices flowing!”
Which is why contributing my own recipes to Super Food Ideas magazine is an opportunity that has me so excited. It really is my dream come true, sharing my own recipes and my own photos in a magazine!
Nando’s copycat Portuguese Chicken Burgers
Back to my Nando’s copycat Portuguese Chicken Burgers! I don’t think Nando’s is huge in America yet, but let me tell you, it has a cult following in Australia. I really mean it when I say this is probably my most requested recipe. If you’ve never tried Nando’s before, you are in for a treat if you try this. The marinade is incredible!
And it forms the base for a simple sauce for the burgers AND as a fabulous dipping sauce for wedges on the side!
Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce
The homemade Nando’s Peri Peri sauce is a copycat that tastes remarkably similar! It’s made with fresh red chillies, capsicum/bell pepper (this is the “secret” ingredient), garlic, vinegar, oil plus herbs and spices (paprika, oregano, onion, sugar, salt, pepper)
It’s literally a plonk-and blitz job, then just pour over the chicken.
What I really love about the Peri Peri Sauce marinade is that you can make it as burgers or not. The marinade is so full of flavour, you could easily serve it up for dinner without the buns. 🙂 Check out the caramelisation, isn’t it fab? Ooooh, the flavour infusion from the marinade…it’s incredible!
It also works as extra sauce for the burgers – OR stir it into mayonnaise to make a Pink Burger Sauce and for dipping wedges or chips (pictured above).
I asked Super Food Ideas to let me share it with you because I really wanted this on my blog. It’s one of five recipes I’ve created especially for Super Food Ideas. The other 4 are exclusive to the magazine – but never fear it’s only $3.20 (can you believe that?!) and you can get it at all the major supermarkets and newsagents in Australia.
Here’s a sneak preview of the other recipes I created for Super Food Ideas. All of them are “Double Duty” recipes where one base sauce is used as a marinade and to make a tasty side.
1. Garlic Lime Marinated Prawns (Shrimp) with Green Rice – one lime and garlic mixture used to marinate the prawns and as the flavour base for a green spinach rice;
2. Cuban Mojo Marinated Pork Cutlets with Corn and Capsicum Salsa – classic Cuban Mojo marinade is used to both infuse the pork with flavour and as a dressing to toss through the chargrilled salsa;
3. Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce and Marinated Chicken – my favourite Chinese vegetable dish uses a sauce which is also brilliant for marinating chicken; and
4. Middle Eastern lamb Koftas with Aromatic Lentil Rice – the same base spice mixture is used to flavour the kofta and to season the rice.
I hate to blow my own horn, but the green spinach coriander garlic lime rice that is made from the marinade for the prawns/shrimp is really good. REALLY good!
This Portuguese Chicken Burger is one of my “go to” recipes for when I’m entertaining large groups. I throw huge quantities of chicken and marinade into ziplock bags then make the blokes do the BBQ’ing (the girls sip wine and do important stuff like discuss the best value hairdressers in town). I lay out baskets of rolls and platters of lettuce and tomato with the Pink Sauce and Peri Peri Sauce on the side and I make everyone DIY their own burgers. NO PLATES. Te he! Napkins only! Don’t make me wash up! -Nagi x
More Burgers, Sliders and Sandwiches
Big, juicy Hamburgers
Steak Sandwich – super quick
Chicken Burger – juicy seasoned chicken breast steak with the lot!
Cubanos – The famous Cuban roast pork sandwich from The Chef movie
Pastrami Sandwiches – Rye bread piled high with homemade pastrami. EPIC!
Veggie Burger – Meatless made amazing. Puts those doughy bricks at the shops to shame!
Browse all Burgers and Sandwiches & Sliders recipes
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Nando’s Portuguese Chicken Burgers
Ingredients
Peri Peri Sauce/Marinade
- 1 – 3 birds eye red chilies (1 is mild, 3 is reasonably spicy) (Note 1)
- 1 large red bell pepper/ capsicum , cut into chunks
- 5 garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 tbsp malt vinegar , or any other plain brown vinegar except not balsamic
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- Black pepper
- Few drop of red food colouring (optional)
Pink Sauce
- 3 tbsp Peri Peri Sauce
- ½ cup whole egg mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream (or yoghurt)
Burgers
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 chicken thigh fillets , skinless boneless (each large enough for a burger)
- 4 soft rolls
- 2 tomatoes , sliced
- Lettuce of choice
On the side
Instructions
- Place the Peri Peri Sauce ingredients in a food processor or blender and whizz until smooth. Pour 1/2 cup into a ziplock bag with the chicken. Marinate for at least 3 hours, or up to 24 hours.
- Mix together 3 tablespoons of the Peri Peri Sauce with the Pink Sauce ingredients. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a fry pan over medium high heat OR the BBQ. Add the chicken and cook each side for 4 to 5 minutes, or until dark golden brown. Remove from fry pan onto a plate, cover loosely with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
- To make the burgers, split a roll in half and top with lettuce, tomato, chicken then Pink Sauce. Drizzle with the residual Peri Peri Sauce if desired. Serve with French fries or wedges!
Recipe Notes:
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Easy Baked Wedges
Ingredients
- 3 large Sebago potatoes , peeled and each cut into 8 wedges (Note 1)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 ½ tsp paprika
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 390F/ 200ºC fan forced (add 20C/30F for convectional).
- Toss the potatoes in onion powder, paprika and salt. Drizzle over olive oil, and toss again.
- Spread out on a baking tray, then bake for 40 to 50 minutes, turning once, until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve with Pink Dipping Sauce.
Recipe Notes:
Kevin | Keviniscooking says
I’ve never heard of Nandos until now, but this recipe is simply DE-lish! And WOW congratulations, what a wonderful, exciting, amazing and monumental achievement for you. An entire SPREAD of your recipes in a magazine. Kudos… I will hold that dream for myself as well. Everything manifests from that right? xoxo
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Ke? No Nando’s in San Diego? Hmm. Maybe I should start a franchise there!! 😉
Stella @ Stellicious Life says
CONGRATULATIONS Nagi! I’m so happy for you! (And you can be proud and do some jiggy, those pages look gorgeous!)
It’s also my dream to be featured in my country’s food magazines one day 😉
This burger looks irresistibel, pinning it!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thank you so much Stella!!! I’m still doing the jiggy, to be honest. 🙂 Still can’t believe this is happening!! 🙂 N x
mira says
Congrats Nagi! I’m so happy for you! Great recipes and photos as always!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thank you so much Mira!! N xx
Sabrina says
Congrats, Nagi!! This is exciting news and love this recipe, of course 🙂
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thank you so much Sabrina!! N x
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
I am SO happy for you Nagi!! Huge congratulations, you are awesome and so are your photos and recipes, so you totally deserve all the success in the world!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Awwww, Nagi … this couldn’t have happened to a more talented, and nicer, blogger. 100% deserved. 🙂
I remember that food magazine – I think I even bought it once while I was in Australia. I LOVE those sorts of food mags and get inspiration from them all the time. I also LOVE that one of MY blogger friends is now featured in one. Well done, you!!! 🙂
P.S. Love the look of all the recipes, but the Nando’s one looks particularly amazing!
Maggie says
Oh my god BIG congratulations Nagi! This is a huge achievement and I want to open a bottle of champagne now! You did a amazing job, they look like recipes that is developed by professional chef and the photos taken by a team!
By the way the burgers are gorgeous and burst with flavors. Will try out the recipe soon 🙂
Nagi | RecipeTin says
THANK YOU MAGGIE! 🙂 I really appreciate your words of support! N x
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Heck, I always come across as a dribbling fool when I’m NOT excited. Can’t imagine how I sound when I am. 🙂 Congrats! This is so deserved. Happy for you. And I’d be happy for me, too, if I made these — terrific dish.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
HA HA! You crack me up John 🙂 Somehow I doubt that! Thank you for your kind words of support! 🙂 N x
Lucy @ Globe Scoffers says
Congratulations! That’s excellent you have been featured in a magazine, good work!! It looks yummy I will definitely try this recipe.
Check out my latest recipe: Chocolate Chilli Con Carne
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thank you Lucy! And yes I’ll pop over and check out your recipe! 🙂 I’m in Mexico right now, home of chocolate mole so Chocolate Chini Con Carne sounds right up my alley! 😉
Bobbi from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen says
HoooLeeeeeShizzzz I can imagine the happy foodie dance you did all over your house 🙂 I am so excited and happy for you. What a fab opportunity!!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
*Snort* Happy foodie dance is the BEST description ever!! Thanks so much Bobbi! N x
Fida | Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says
Congratulations Nagi!!! I’m so happy for you, what an amazing accomplishment, you deserve every bit of that success. And this recipe and pictures, just incredible, you are so good at what you do!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
You tickle my heart. We’d all be the same way, I’m sure. Well done and well deserved too. I think they’re luckier than you are – your work is the best.
I love Nando’s chicken burgers but I’ve not tried them at home. Now I must!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
No more bottled Peri Peri Sauce! Homemade is the way to go! 🙂 N x
Johlene@FlavoursandFrosting says
Nagi, do you know how much I miss Nando´s here in Spain?? Every time I go to South Africa to visit, I consume more than my fair share of Nando´s burgers. Thanks for this awesome recipe!! Your photos, like always, are stunning too!!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
I knew you were a lady of class and taste Jolene 🙂 N x
Lizzi says
Hi there and congrats on the fame!
Looks a great collection of recipes… I look forward to each of your posts, they are always so tasty!
Question though… I can’t get malt vinegar here in Crete: what would be my best substitute please?
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Fame – no!! 🙂 Not even close! Thank you so much for your lovely message! Any plain brown vinegar (i.e. not a sweetened one and not a thick syrupy one) is a suitable substitute for the malt vinegar except not balsamic because the flavour is too strong. Thanks for the question, I will update the recipe! PS Crete? How cool! 🙂
Michael Bourne says
awesome stuff. i have been telling so many people about your site… everyone who looks at it is suitably impressed with the wonderful, simple, easy to make meals that taste out of this world. keep up the great work
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Wow Michael, that’s such a high praise! Thank you so much for your lovely message, and for telling other people about my site! 😉 N x
Abbe @ This is How I Cook says
You are on a tear! What great news and so well deserved. You have so many people that love you-and your recipes! What a great and exciting spot to be in. Can’t wait to see what comes next!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Oh wow Abbe, thank you so much for your lovely message!! It is pretty exciting 🙂 I can’t wait to get home so I can see the magazine myself!! N x
Brianne says
Eeeekkk! Congrats Nagi! That’s such wonderful news. Your photos are KILLER. I don’t think I can get my hands on the magazine here in Canada, but you should bring a copy (or five) to LA so we can all oooo and ahhh over the photos in person! Also, we have Nando’s up north here and I love it! I remember eating their chicken “back in the day”, and surprisingly they actually have a fair bit of vegetarian items on the menu too!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thank you Brianne!!! Oooh, I didn’t know you have Nando’s in Canada? No way!!! Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. Canada has great taste! 😉 N x
Sue | My Korean Kitchen says
Congrats, Nagi! This is super awesome news!
I can’t believe now I can make Nando’s burger at my own home! 🙂 I’m gonna check the magazine out!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Awww, thanks Sue!!! I do hope you try this Peri Peri sauce, it’s pretty darn yum if I do say so myself!! N x
Dina says
Impressive!!! Congrats!!! WELL DONE!!! I’m proud for you!!!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thank you SO MUCH Dina!! 🙂 N x
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
Oh my gosh, Nagi, I actually teared up reading this. Your excitement and enthusiasm is positively jumping off the page! You work so darn hard and are so generous with your time and advice – this is your time, friend! Savour, relish, rejoice in every single minute of your success! Hell, I’m so proud of you 🙂
Your dishes are stunning and the photography is mesmerizing. I’m studying every single inch of it, lol. I did a recipe for Nando’s piri piri chicken that I love and it’s time to reshoot it!
I’m doing the happy dance for you, girl! Congratulations!