Malian Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew
A hearty and flavorful stew featuring tender chicken, sweet potatoes, and aromatic spices, often served with rice or millet. This dish balances the sweetness of the potatoes with savory chicken and a rich, spiced broth.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken(cut into pieces, bone-in or boneless)
- 500 g Sweet potatoes(peeled and cubed)
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 400 g Tomatoes(crushed or diced)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 500 ml Chicken broth
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Coriander
- 0.5 tsp Turmeric
- 0.25 tsp Cayenne pepper(or to taste)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- a handful Fresh cilantro(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces on all sides, then remove and set aside.
⏱️ 8-10 minutes - 2
Add chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 minutes - 3
Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 minute - 4
Add crushed tomatoes, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes to toast the spices.
⏱️ 3 minutes - 5
Return the browned chicken to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth, and season with salt and black pepper.
- 6
Bring the stew to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 7
Add the cubed sweet potatoes to the pot. Cover and continue to simmer for another 20-25 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked through.
⏱️ 25 minutes - 8
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can marinate the chicken in some of the spices for 30 minutes before browning.
- ✓If the stew becomes too thick, add a little more chicken broth or water.
- ✓Adjust the cayenne pepper to your preferred level of heat.
🔄 Variations
- Add other vegetables like bell peppers or carrots along with the sweet potatoes.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and use vegetable broth, adding firm tofu or chickpeas.