Kenyan Chicken Groundnut Stew
A rich and creamy stew made with chicken and groundnuts (peanuts), infused with aromatic spices. This dish offers a delightful balance of savory, nutty, and slightly spicy flavors, often served with rice or ugali.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken thighs(boneless, skinless, cut into chunks)
- 2 large Onions(1 finely chopped, 1 sliced)
- 3 medium Tomatoes(puréed or finely chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch Ginger(grated or minced)
- 0.5 medium Red bell pepper(chopped)
- 3 tbsp Cooking oil
- 1.5 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 cup Natural peanut butter(unsweetened)
- 4 cups Chicken broth or water
- 1.5 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Curry powder
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 0.5 small Scotch bonnet or Habanero pepper(optional, for heat, finely chopped or whole)
- 0.25 cup Coriander(fresh, chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season the chicken chunks with salt, black pepper, curry powder, and paprika. Set aside.
- 2
Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces in batches until golden brown on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 3
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pot. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 4
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the puréed tomatoes and chopped red bell pepper. If using, add the chopped scotch bonnet pepper. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have broken down.
- 5
Pour in the chicken broth or water. Bring to a simmer. Whisk in the peanut butter until smooth and well combined. Return the browned chicken to the pot.
- 6
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45-60 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- 7
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. If the stew is too thick, add a little more broth or water. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use natural peanut butter with no added sugar for the best flavor.
- ✓Adjust the amount of chili pepper to your preferred level of heat.
- ✓This stew is excellent served with rice, ugali, or even couscous.
🔄 Variations
- Add spinach or other leafy greens during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- For a thicker stew, you can add a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water) at the end of cooking.