Poulet à la Banane Jaune (Chicken with Yellow Banana)
A flavorful and comforting dish where chicken is simmered with ripe yellow bananas, creating a slightly sweet and savory sauce. This dish highlights the common use of plantains and bananas in Congolese cuisine, offering a unique taste profile.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken pieces(bone-in, skin-on, cut into serving pieces)
- 4 large Yellow bananas(ripe, peeled and sliced into thick rounds)
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 3 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 500 ml Chicken broth
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 1 small Chili pepper(optional, finely chopped)
- 0.25 cup Cilantro(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
💡 Tip: Ensure even seasoning for best flavor. - 2
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 3
Add chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
💡 Tip: Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. - 4
Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sauté for another minute until fragrant.
- 5
Stir in chopped tomatoes and optional chili pepper. Cook until tomatoes break down, about 5-7 minutes.
- 6
Return the chicken to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 25 minutes, or until chicken is almost cooked through.
- 7
Add the sliced yellow bananas to the pot. Stir gently to combine. Cover and continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes, or until bananas are tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
💡 Tip: Be careful not to overcook the bananas, they should be soft but not mushy. - 8
Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
💡 Tip: Serve hot with rice or fufu.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use very ripe yellow bananas for a sweeter and softer texture.
- ✓Adjust the amount of chili pepper to your spice preference.
- ✓If the sauce is too thin, you can mash a few banana slices against the side of the pot to help thicken it.
🔄 Variations
- Add other vegetables like bell peppers or carrots along with the tomatoes.
- For a richer flavor, use a small amount of peanut butter stirred into the sauce towards the end of cooking.