Burkina Faso | Main dish

Poulet Bicyclette

Grilled local free-range chicken marinated in mustard, citrus, garlic, chile, oil, and herbs, then cooked over charcoal until smoky and crisp.

Country
Burkina Faso
Region
West Africa
Time
70 min
Serves
4
Level
medium
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Recipe overview

What to know before you cook

Use this overview to check the occasion, serving ideas, regional context, and cooking commitment before you begin.

When to cook it

Best for Evening gatherings at maquis. Plan on a medium cook and about 70 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Attiéké, fries, or riz gras

Regional lane

Burkina Faso national table. A structured Burkina Faso dish in the AfroKitchen archive.

Chef watch-outs
  • Skipping the resting time after grilling.
  • Rushing the base before the raw edge has cooked out.
  • Adding all seasoning early and forgetting to adjust at the end.
How you know it is ready
  • The surface should be deeply colored while the center stays juicy.
  • The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
  • Oil, sauce, broth, or steam should look settled and deliberate.
Recipe photos

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Poulet Bicyclette recipe from Burkina Faso
Poulet Bicyclette finished dish
Chef board

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Attiéké, fries, or riz gras

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Burkina Faso national table

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Servings 4

Scale the dish before you shop, then use the checklist while you cook.

How to cook it

Step-by-step method

Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.

Back to Burkina Faso
4 steps 30 min prep 40 min cook 70 min total medium
1
Make the marinade
Mix mustard, lime juice, garlic, parsley, cayenne, oil, salt, and pepper into a paste.
2
Marinate the chicken
Rub the marinade all over the chicken, getting under the skin. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
Kitchen noteGetting marinade under the skin is key to flavour.
Marinate 120:00
3
Grill the chicken
Grill over medium charcoal heat, turning regularly, for about 35-40 minutes until the skin is crispy and the juices run clear.
Kitchen noteKeep the heat medium to cook through without burning.
Grill chicken 40:00
4
Rest and serve
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before cutting into pieces. Serve with your choice of sides.
Rest 05:00

Every household has small variations. Start here, then adjust seasoning, heat, and serving sides to your kitchen.

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