Antiguan Stewed Chicken
A comforting and flavorful one-pot dish featuring tender chicken pieces stewed in a rich, savory sauce with aromatic vegetables and spices.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 lbs Chicken pieces(bone-in, skin-on (thighs and drumsticks recommended))
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 large Onion(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 medium Bell pepper(any color, chopped)
- 2 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 2 cups Chicken broth
- 1 tbsp Thyme(fresh, chopped or 1 tsp dried)
- 4-5 whole Allspice berries
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 2 stalks Scallions(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper.
- 2
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown chicken pieces on all sides until golden. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 3
Add chopped onion to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Stir in minced garlic and chopped bell pepper, cooking for another 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- 5
Add chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes until tomatoes begin to break down.
- 6
Return the browned chicken to the pot. Pour in chicken broth, add thyme and allspice berries. Bring to a simmer.
💡 Tip: Ensure chicken is mostly submerged in liquid. - 7
Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and tender. Stir occasionally.
💡 Tip: The sauce should thicken slightly. - 8
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Remove allspice berries before serving.
💡 Tip: A pinch of sugar can balance the acidity of the tomatoes if desired. - 9
Garnish with chopped scallions and serve hot with rice or peas and rice.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can marinate the chicken in a mixture of lime juice, garlic, and herbs for at least 30 minutes before browning.
- ✓If the sauce is too thin, you can remove the chicken and simmer the sauce uncovered for a few minutes to reduce it.
- ✓Feel free to add other vegetables like carrots or potatoes for a heartier stew.
🔄 Variations
- Add a splash of white rum towards the end of cooking for an extra layer of flavor.
- Incorporate a scotch bonnet pepper (minced, seeds removed) for a spicy kick.