Poulet à la Moambé Nouvelle Version
A rich and flavorful chicken stew made with palm nut cream (moambe), often served with rice or fufu. This version offers a slightly refined approach to the classic.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Chicken pieces(bone-in, skin-on (e.g., thighs, drumsticks))
- 800 ml Palm nut cream (Moambe)(canned or fresh)
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 400 g Tomatoes(crushed or pureed)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 1 small Scotch bonnet pepper(finely chopped, seeds removed for less heat (optional))
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 200 ml Water
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
👨‍🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces on all sides until golden. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 2
Add the chopped onions to the same pot and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- 3
Stir in the minced garlic, grated ginger, and chopped scotch bonnet pepper. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 4
Add the crushed tomatoes to the pot and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the oil begins to separate.
- 5
Return the browned chicken pieces to the pot. Pour in the palm nut cream and the water. Stir well to combine everything.
- 6
Bring the stew to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for at least 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
đź’ˇ Tip: The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor. - 7
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot with rice, fufu, or plantains.
đź’ˇ Pro Tips
- âś“For a smoother sauce, you can strain the palm nut cream before adding it.
- âś“If using fresh palm nuts, they need to be processed to extract the cream, which is a more involved process.
- âś“Adjust the amount of scotch bonnet pepper to your spice preference.
🔄 Variations
- Add a bay leaf during the simmering process for an aromatic touch.
- Some recipes include a small amount of smoked fish or dried shrimp for added depth of flavor.