Frango à Cacana com Legumes
A flavorful and hearty chicken dish featuring tender chicken pieces simmered with a variety of fresh vegetables in a rich, aromatic sauce. This dish offers a comforting taste of Mozambican home cooking.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Chicken(cut into pieces, bone-in or boneless)
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 400 g Tomatoes(diced)
- 2 medium Bell peppers(mixed colors, chopped)
- 2 medium Carrots(peeled and sliced)
- 1 medium Zucchini(sliced)
- 1 medium Sweet potatoes(peeled and cubed)
- 500 ml Chicken broth
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 bunch Coriander(chopped, for garnish)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 2 Bay leaves
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- 2
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown chicken pieces on all sides, then remove and set aside.
- 3
Add chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- 4
Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 5
Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 6
Add the chopped bell peppers, sliced carrots, cubed sweet potatoes, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
- 7
Return the browned chicken to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth.
- 8
Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
- 9
Add the sliced zucchini during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- 10
Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Remove bay leaves before serving.
- 11
Garnish with fresh chopped coriander and serve hot, typically with rice or xima.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a spicier dish, add a chopped chili pepper along with the onions.
- ✓Ensure vegetables are cut into roughly uniform sizes for even cooking.
- ✓This dish can be made ahead of time and reheats well.
🔄 Variations
- Add other root vegetables like potatoes or cassava.
- Incorporate leafy greens like spinach or kale in the last 10 minutes of cooking.