Coffee Chicken Recipe: a Bold and Refined Dish

Coffee-flavoured chicken recipe: an intense and refined flavour

Chicken and coffee may seem like an unlikely pairing, but they work surprisingly well together. The recipe even featured on MasterChef, one of Italy’s most popular TV shows.

Despite that, coffee chicken is still unfamiliar to many people, and that’s a pity. It’s an original, easy-to-make dish that’s sure to impress with its balance of simplicity and bold flavour.

Serve it as a creative weeknight dinner or when you have guests. Coffee chicken makes a delicious main course, and with the right side dish, it can become a complete one-pot-style meal.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients for a basic coffee chicken recipe:
•    6–7 cups of espresso: You can use a chilled, aromatic 100% Arabica coffee with an intense yet balanced flavour and floral, fruity notes.
•    Aromatic vegetables: 
o    1 onion or spring onion, or 2 shallots for a more pronounced flavour
o    1 carrot
o    1 celery stalk
•    Pink peppercorns and black peppercorns, to taste
•    Salt and extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
•    Ground cardamom or cinnamon (optional)
•    Sesame seeds.

How to Make Coffee Chicken: Step-by-Step

1.    Brew the espresso first so it’s ready when you need it. Let it cool completely.
2.    For a more spiced flavour, stir ground cardamom or cinnamon into the coffee.
3.   Cut the chicken into medium-sized cubes, as you would for a stew. You can also use pieces that are easy to eat by hand, such as drumsticks or wings.
4.   Place the chicken in the cooled coffee with the pink peppercorns. Stir, cover and marinate in the refrigerator for about 12 hours.
5.   While the chicken marinates, finely dice the aromatic vegetables and toast the sesame seeds in a pan or in the oven.
6.   Once the chicken has finished marinating, heat a little extra-virgin olive oil in a non-stick pan. Sauté the vegetables until lightly golden.
7.   Add the chicken and the coffee used for the marinade.
8.   Season with salt and black peppercorns.
9.   Cook for about 10 minutes, checking that the chicken stays tender and doesn’t dry out.

MasterChef Coffee Chicken

Coffee chicken has challenged several MasterChef contestants—and, in one case, helped secure a win.

In the sixth season of MasterChef Italy, 19-year-old Valerio Braschi presented a dish called “Sleepless Chicken”: a creamy coffee chicken recipe featuring:

•    Coffee, almond and coconut crumble
•    Caramelised almonds
•    Toasted coconut
•    Crystallised mint
•    Coffee and ginger cream

To try this refined dish at home, you could choose organic coffee —a choice that reflects the Valerio Braschi’s focus on quality ingredients.

The result is a complex yet balanced flavour, where technique and ingredient quality make all the difference.

It’s more elaborate and gourmet than the basic recipe, but it can make a real impression if you get the flavours in harmony.

What to Serve with Coffee Chicken

Coffee chicken pairs well with several sides. Start with plain basmati rice, served in small bowls. It adds an Eastern-inspired touch and helps turn the dish into a satisfying meal.

Mashed potatoes are another great option and work well as part of a complete meal.

If you’re serving coffee chicken as a main course with sides, try a simple salad. In autumn, add pomegranate seeds; sesame seeds also make a fitting garnish that echoes the recipe.

Artichokes and fried zucchini flowers are delicious alongside it, as is puntarelle salad dressed with a little lemon. There are plenty of ways to serve this flavourful coffee chicken.