African Chicken Stew

A tasty Nigerian chicken dish smothered in a savory aromatic tomato sauce the African way. Serve it with coconut rice for a no-fuss, quick, and easy weeknight meal!

Course Main

Cuisine African

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Servings

Calories 996kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

3½-4 pounds (1.5-2k) chicken, cut into pieces
salt and pepper to taste
4-5 Roma tomatoes
1 medium onion, sliced
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon (5g) chopped ginger
¼ cup (6-7g) fresh parsley
2-3 large leaves basil
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 teaspoon (2g) smoked paprika
1½ teaspoons (2-3g) dried thyme
½ teaspoon (2g) white pepper
2 cups (475ml) chicken broth or 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder in 2 cups of water
1 small bell pepper, sliced
¼ cup oil
6 cups (1,200g) cooked coconut rice
2 green onion, chopped (whites and green parts)

Instructions

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Puree tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, parsley, and basil in a blender.
Pour the tomatoes into a large saucepan. Add the tomato paste, paprika, thyme, white pepper, and any other spice with about 2 cups of chicken stock. Bring the stew base to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent burning for 20-30 minutes.
Heat a large stockpot over medium heat and add oil. When it's hot, add the chicken and sauté, stirring frequently. Scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot and keep stirring until the chicken browns.
Add the chicken and bell pepper to the stew pot with about ¼ cup of oil. Cook for 5-10 minutes, then adjust seasoning and consistency to taste with salt, pepper, and chicken stock.
Remove from heat, serve over coconut rice, and garnish with chopped green onions. Enjoy!

Notes

A good African stew has a noticeable tomato presence without the sharp acidity.
If your stew is too acidic, add ½ a teaspoon of curry to help reduce or mask acidity.
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition