Nando's @ Home

When it comes to Casual Dining in the UK your initial thoughts will hit the high street, for food chains that spark a positive note within your minds, favourites etc. what does the general consumer say for the top 5 chains for casual dining.
The 2012 Peach Brand Tracker Survey, which surveyed 10,000 people reported the top 5 Casual Dining Brands were, 1)Wetherspoons
2) Pizza hut 3) Harvester 4) Nando's 5) Pizza Express.
Its no surprise that Wetherspoons topped the unspecific chart from casual dining, the price sensitive world we live in, however what may be a surprise to some is how high Nando's UK came, one of the smallest brands but one fastest growing in the UK is ever popular.

Personally whilst the food is good I have never been a big fan, its expensive posh KFC in a nutshell. You queue, you order at the till, you pay upfront. you even do your own drinks, get your own crockery and cutlery, the menu is predominantly chicken, when you break it down the facts don't sound convincing to be a leader for "casual dining" however it is. For me spending £20 for a sharing chicken and 2 sides seems expensive, considering it is in fact 1 roast chicken quartered and smothered in a choice of spice.

Now knowing how popular Nando's is and how much money us consumers spend I wondered how easy it would be for average Joe to re-create a Nando's at home.

To re-create Nando's Meal Platter For 2 people to share. Whole Chicken + 1 Large or 2 Reg Sides + 2 Bottomless Soft Drinks £19.95

Shopping at Asda the ingredients from scratch are;

Medium size whole Chicken £3.50                            Medium size whole chicken £3.50
1 x pack of Cous Cous £0.78                                      1/2 pack of Cous Cous £0.39
Nando's Hot Marinade £1.98                                      1/2 bottle Nando's marinade £0.99
Maris Piper Potatoes £2.25                                         4 Potatoes £0.75
Frylight £2.20                                                              2 sprays of Frylight £0.22
Coca Cola 1.5ltr x2 £2.00                                           3 litres/5.2 pints coca cola £2.00

TOTAL COST FOR CORE INGREDIENTS £11.70               TOTAL COST OF RECIPE £7.85 (including all drink)

• Take Chicken remove packaging and wash with cold water. put in a mixing bowl.
• Pour 1/4 marinade over the chicken, rub in to chicken skin all over (add more for a stronger taste) cover and refrigerate for a rough 6 hours.
• Season Chicken as optional, Cook in a roasting tin for recommended guidelines normally 20 mins per 400g plus an extra 20 mins. Cook at 210 or gas mark 6.
• Cut 3 medium potatoes in to 1cm width chips add to a pot of salted boiling water and boil for 6 mins take off the heat and drain in a colander, allow to drain and dry then sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of flour and toss together they should be nice and fluffy.
• Spray a baking tray with a spray of frylight and put in oven for 5 mins to preheat.
• Add chips to heated baking tray and return to oven with another spray of frylight turn after 20 mins.
• When you are sure the chicken has achieved 75 degrees for 30 seconds or the juices are running clear take the chicken out and rest on a chopping board. boil the kettle.
• put half the Cous Cous in a bowl and add 1/2 the specified amount of boiling water plus a small knob of butter (optional) cover with Clingfilm and leave for 5 minutes.
• Carefully snip the string from the chickens legs, take a sharp knife and cut the chicken in half along the breast bone a firm bit of pressure will chop through, turn each half on its side and cut again in half just above the leg/wing joint making 4 quarters.
• Arrange on a plate, pour another 1/4 of the Nando's sauce in a dipping pot, carefully get the chips out of the oven and season. put into a bowl. remove the cling film from the Cous Cous and stir it should have absorbed the water and have fluffed up double in size.
• Pour your soft drinks and enjoy a "Nando's" sharing meal for 2.