Market Umbrella is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3), based in New Orleans, whose mission is to cultivate the power of farmers markets to drive economic and community health in the region. Market Umbrella has operated the Crescent City Farmers Markets (CCFM) since 1995.
Recipe
Poulet Yassa or Chicken Yassa
Chef Serigne Mbaye is no stranger to CCFM as a frequent shopper and friend to many of our vendors. You may know Serigne as the Chef de Cuisine at the Mosquito Supper Club restaurant and the chef behind Dakar Nola, a modern Senegalese pop-up restaurant. Born in the United States, but raised and educated largely in Senegal, Chef Serigne’s cooking intimately explores the connections between the foods of Louisiana and Senegal. With a focus on highlighting the bounty of local ingredients, Serigne has had the pleasure of collaborating with farmers and chefs throughout Southeast Louisiana. Knowing the farmers personally has helped him stay creative in that they make recommendations of new crops to try and share what harvests will be brought to market soon - he vouches that local farmers are the backbone of his work as a chef!
Ingredients
- 3 chicken leg quarters (leg and thigh)
- 3 chicken breast halves (bone-in)
- 5 onions (about 2 pounds) peeled, halved, and thinly sliced
Marinade:
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup canola oil or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 4 medium garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For browning and braising the chicken:
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil (olive, canola, or grape seed)
- 1 1/2 cups low-salt chicken broth
Instructions
Marinate the chicken: Put the chicken and onions into a large glass bowl. Whisk marinade ingredients in a small bowl and pour on top. Toss to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the fridge for at least 3 hours or, preferably, overnight.
Brown the chicken and caramelize the onions: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven. Remove the chicken from the marinade and sprinkle pieces with a few pinches of salt and a few grinds of pepper, to taste. Brown chicken on both sides in batches, three pieces at a time, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Spoon out some of the chicken fat from the pot, leaving about one tablespoon.
Caramelize the onions and scrape the onions and all the marinade into the pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes to get the onions hot and cooking. Cover the pot and turn the heat to medium-low. Let the onions cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes more, until they are soft and starting to caramelize. Regulate the heat so they don't burn.
Use a spatula or wooden spoon to move onions aside, as you lay chicken pieces into the bottom of the pot, and then mound the onions on top of the chicken pieces. Pour in chicken broth. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the broth to a simmer. Cover the pot and put it in the oven and cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Serve with fluffy white rice and sliced green olives.
About Us
The Crescent City Farmers Market operates weekly year-round throughout New Orleans. The CCFM hosts 70+ local small farmers, fishers, and food producers, and more than 150,000 shoppers annually.