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Spicy Peri-Peri Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potato Wedges and Bell Peppers
A zesty and flavorful dish featuring juicy peri-peri chicken thighs served alongside crispy sweet potato wedges and vibrant bell peppers.
Estimated. Worked out from the ingredients using the UK food composition tables, so treat it as a guide rather than a measurement. A typical recipe lands within about a quarter of the true figure. Makes about 4.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs, skin-on
- 2 tablespoons peri-peri sauce
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into wedges
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Cooking Steps
1. Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F).
2. In a bowl, marinate the chicken thighs with peri-peri sauce, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
3. Place the sweet potato wedges in the air fryer basket, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and toss. Cook for 10 minutes.
4. After 10 minutes, shake the sweet potato basket to ensure even cooking, then add the marinated chicken thighs on top of the wedges.
5. Cook the chicken and sweet potatoes for an additional 15 minutes. Flip the chicken thighs halfway through the cooking time at 7 minutes.
6. After 15 minutes, add the sliced bell peppers on top of the chicken and wedges. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
7. Once done, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Optional Enhancements
- Use chicken breast instead of thighs.
- Replace sweet potatoes with regular potatoes.
- Swap bell peppers for zucchini or asparagus.
Plant & Growing Tips
Sweet Potatoes
- Plant sweet potato slips (sprouted cuttings) after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm, spacing them 30-45cm apart.
- Sweet potatoes need full sun and well-drained soil; sandy loam is ideal.
- Water regularly, especially during dry periods, for good tuber development, but reduce watering as harvest approaches.
Red Bell Pepper
- Start bell pepper seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost, transplanting outdoors when soil temperatures are warm.
- Provide full sun and rich, well-drained soil, spacing plants 45-60cm apart.
- Support taller varieties with stakes or cages to prevent branches from breaking under the weight of fruit.
Yellow Bell Pepper
- Start bell pepper seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost, transplanting outdoors when soil temperatures are warm.
- Provide full sun and rich, well-drained soil, spacing plants 45-60cm apart.
- Support taller varieties with stakes or cages to prevent branches from breaking under the weight of fruit.
Parsley
- Sow seeds thinly directly into moist soil in spring or autumn, as parsley prefers cooler temperatures.
- Choose a location with partial shade, especially in hot climates, and keep the soil consistently moist.
- Parsley grows well in containers; use a pot at least 20cm deep to accommodate its taproot.
Natural Pest Control
- Rotate sweet potato crops annually to prevent the build-up of soil-borne pests like sweet potato weevils.
- Use row covers over young bell pepper plants to protect them from flea beetles and aphids.
- Hand-pick larger pests like hornworms from pepper plants.
- Companion plant parsley with tomatoes or asparagus to deter pests.
Harvest
Sweet Potatoes
- Harvest sweet potatoes before the first frost, typically 90-120 days after planting, when the leaves start to yellow.
- Carefully dig around the plants to avoid damaging the tubers, then cure them in a warm, humid place for 1-2 weeks before storage.
Red Bell Pepper
- Harvest bell peppers when they reach full size and a vibrant red color, indicating ripeness and peak flavor.
- Cut the pepper from the plant with a sharp knife or shears, leaving a small piece of stem attached.
Yellow Bell Pepper
- Harvest bell peppers when they reach full size and a vibrant yellow color, indicating ripeness and peak flavor.
- Cut the pepper from the plant with a sharp knife or shears, leaving a small piece of stem attached.
Parsley
- Harvest outer leaves as needed by cutting stems close to the base, which encourages new growth.
- For best flavor, harvest before the plant flowers; flowering can make leaves bitter.
Storing & Freezing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 160°C (320°F).
