Nkhatini Ya Nkhuku (Malawian Chicken and Okra Stew)
A flavorful and hearty Malawian chicken stew featuring tender chicken pieces simmered with okra, tomatoes, and aromatic spices, often served with nsima.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken(cut into pieces, bone-in or boneless)
- 300 g Okra(trimmed and sliced)
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 400 g Tomatoes(chopped or crushed)
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 500 ml Water or chicken broth
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 1 Chili pepper (optional)(finely chopped)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- 2
Add minced garlic and grated ginger, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 3
Add the chicken pieces to the pot and brown them on all sides.
- 4
Stir in the chopped tomatoes (or crushed tomatoes) and cook for 5 minutes, allowing them to break down.
- 5
Pour in the water or chicken broth, season with salt and black pepper. Add chili pepper if using. Bring the stew to a simmer.
- 6
Cover the pot and let it simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- 7
Add the sliced okra to the pot. Stir well and continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 10-15 minutes, or until the okra is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- 8
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot with nsima or rice.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓To reduce the sliminess of okra, you can lightly sauté it separately before adding it to the stew, or add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to the stew when adding the okra.
- ✓For a richer flavor, use bone-in chicken pieces.
- ✓Adjust the amount of chili pepper to your spice preference.
🔄 Variations
- Add other vegetables like bell peppers or carrots along with the tomatoes.
- For a thicker stew, you can mash some of the cooked okra against the side of the pot.
- Some recipes include a tablespoon of peanut butter stirred in towards the end for added richness.