Poulet à la Banane Plantain (Chicken with Plantain)
A delightful Cameroonian dish featuring tender chicken pieces cooked in a savory sauce, often with tomatoes and spices, and served alongside sweet, ripe plantains that have been fried or stewed. This combination offers a wonderful balance of savory and sweet.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken(cut into pieces (thighs and drumsticks recommended))
- 3 medium Ripe Plantains(peeled and sliced into 1-inch rounds)
- 1 large Onions(chopped)
- 3 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 tsp Ginger(grated)
- 4 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 300 ml Chicken Broth or Water
- 0.5 tsp Thyme(dried)
- 0.5 tsp Curry Powder
- Salt(to taste)
- Black Pepper(to taste)
- 1 Optional: Bay Leaf
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In a large pan or pot, heat 2 tbsp of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown chicken pieces on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 2
Add the remaining 2 tbsp of vegetable oil to the same pan. Add chopped onions and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- 3
Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 4
Add chopped tomatoes and cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they break down into a sauce.
- 5
Return the browned chicken to the pan. Pour in chicken broth or water. Add thyme, curry powder, and bay leaf (if using). Bring to a simmer.
- 6
Cover the pan and let the chicken simmer for about 25-30 minutes, or until cooked through and tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- 7
While the chicken is simmering, prepare the plantains. You can either fry them in a separate pan with a little oil until golden brown, or add them to the chicken stew during the last 10-15 minutes of cooking to soften and absorb the sauce.
- 8
Serve the chicken stew hot, with the prepared plantains on the side or mixed in.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use ripe plantains (yellow with black spots) for sweetness.
- ✓Adjust the amount of liquid to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can add a tablespoon of tomato paste with the chopped tomatoes.
🔄 Variations
- Add other vegetables like bell peppers or carrots to the stew.
- Incorporate a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little heat.
- Serve with rice or fufu instead of plantains.