Pollo en Coco y Curry
A flavorful chicken stew simmered in a rich coconut milk sauce with aromatic curry spices, onions, peppers, and tomatoes. This dish offers a delightful blend of Caribbean and subtly Indian-inspired flavors, often served with white rice.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Chicken pieces(bone-in, skin-on, cut into serving pieces)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 tsp Sugar(for caramelizing)
- 1 large Onion(chopped)
- 1 medium Red bell pepper(chopped)
- 1 medium Green bell pepper(chopped)
- 3 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 chopped Celery stalk
- 0.25 cup Fresh cilantro(chopped)
- 1 juiced Lime
- 0.5 juiced Sour orange(or substitute with 1/4 cup orange juice + 1/4 cup lime juice)
- 1 tsp Oregano(dried)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 2 tbsp Curry powder
- 2 cups Coconut milk(full-fat)
- 1 cup Vegetable broth
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Rinse the chicken pieces thoroughly with lime juice and water. Pat dry.
💡 Tip: Using lime helps to clean the chicken and remove any gamey odors. - 2
In a large bowl, season the chicken with salt, oregano, black pepper, minced garlic, and the juice of the sour orange and lime. Marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- 3
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sugar and cook until caramelized.
💡 Tip: Caramelizing the sugar helps to give the chicken a nice color. - 4
Add the marinated chicken pieces to the pot and brown them on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 5
Add the chopped onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, celery, and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- 6
Stir in the curry powder and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 7
Return the chicken to the pot. Add the vegetable broth and the chopped cilantro. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is almost cooked through.
- 8
Pour in the coconut milk and stir well. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly and the chicken is fully cooked.
💡 Tip: Simmering uncovered helps the sauce to reduce and thicken. - 9
Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.
💡 Tip: This dish is best served with white rice to soak up the delicious sauce.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a spicier dish, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a finely chopped hot pepper along with the other vegetables.
- ✓If you don't have sour orange, a mix of lime and orange juice works well as a substitute.
- ✓Ensure you use full-fat coconut milk for the creamiest sauce.
🔄 Variations
- Add other vegetables like potatoes or sweet potatoes for a heartier stew.
- For a different flavor profile, a touch of ginger can be added with the garlic.