Friday, November 5, 2010

Recipe Friday: African Chicken Stew

"He who pursues a chicken often falls, but the chicken has to run." African proverb, Amaka

Today's recipe is a delicious chicken stew that can be served alone, over couscous, or over rice.  It's hot and hearty featuring a fall favorite--sweet potatoes! 

Growing up, I always ate sweet potatoes as a pudding or souffle. But as an adult, I've discovered lots of recipes that use them in savory dishes, which my husband prefers over the sweet ones.

This stew is easy to prepare, but unfortunately involves a little cutting and chopping (so just pretend it's therapeutic).  I've adapted my version from one I originally found in Woman's Day Magazine. Hope you enjoy!

African Chicken Stew

3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 t onion powder
3 sweet potatoes
3 t garlic powder
1 1/2 t chili powder
20 ounces canned diced tomatoes
12 ounces frozen peas
1 1/2 T lemon juice
1/2 cup peanut butter

Season chicken with salt pepper and onion powder. Coat a large pot with cooking spray. place over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook about three minutes until browned.

Peel potatoes and cut in bite sized pieces; set aside. Sprinkle chicken with garlic powder and chili powder. Cook about 30 seconds or until fragrant.

Add potatoes and tomatoes. Bring chicken to the top. Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer about thirty minutes, or until potatoes are soft and chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle with peas, cover and cook 10 minutes longer. Add peanut butter and lemon juice. Stir until blended and hot. Makes 4 servings.

How do you like your sweet potatoes, sweet or savory?

Tweet me @:maria_mckenzie. Thanks for stopping by!

15 comments:

William Kendall said...

Peanut butter with chicken?

I've never heard of that in a recipe, but it sounds interesting!

Maria McKenzie said...

William, it's amazing!

Melissa said...

MMMM sounds so good!!! Can I come visit your house?

Karen Jones Gowen said...

This looks good, and with a son who recently got home from Africa, I am interested in all that cooking. He showed me how to make a few things. I'll try this.

Maria McKenzie said...

@Melissa: Yes! Please bring chocolate:).

@Karen G. You'll love this, and your son can suggest a few side dishes to go with it. I have another African recipe for soup. It uses peanut butter and sweet potatoes, too--and it's out of this world! I'll have to post it.

The Words Crafter said...

I have to admit, the peanut butter threw me, but my mouth is watering, so it must be good!

K M Kelly said...

That sounds delicious - I'm going to try it.

As for sweet potatoes - I've only ever used them in savoury dishes and never heard of them as a sweet. Perhaps this is something to do with that big expanse of water between you and me ;-)

Nas said...

Now to try out this amazing recipe!

Jemi Fraser said...

I did a double take at the peanut butter! I really didn't expect that. I'd never heard of sweet potatoes until I was an adult, so I don't have many recipes for them. I'll give this one a shot, but I won't tell my family about the peanut butter until after they've tried it!! :)

Maria McKenzie said...

@Words Crafter: Thanks for the follow:). Peanut butter with chicken sounds strange, but it really is good!

@Kate: Thanks for following me! I'll have to post a "sweet" sweet potato dish for you to try. Those are more popular in the southern part of the US where my mom is from:).

@Nas: Hope you like it!

@Jemi: Thanks for visiting and thanks for the follow. I think your family will like this! And I think every Friday this month I'll post sweet potato recipes, some sweet and some savory:).

Julie Musil said...

I love sweet potatoes but I've never had them in a stew! I loooove sweet potato fries. You know what surprised me most about this? The peanut butter! I'll have to give this a try.

Denise Covey said...

Oh, doesn't this sound yummy! My mouth is watering.

Thanks for following me. Here's looking back at you!

Lydia Kang said...

Wow does that look good. And it's only 8am over here!
I tend to like my sweet potatoes a little more savory (like with melted butter. Oh boy!)

Carol Kilgore said...

I've never really liked sweet potatoes until the last couple of years as I've eaten more of them. Thanks for the recipe. And thanks also for following me at Under the Tiki Hut.

Maria McKenzie said...

@Julie: Hi Julie! I love sweet potato fries too:). I've learned that sweet potatoes are very versatile, and combining them with peanut butter in savory dishes creates an amazing flavor!

@L'Aussie: Thanks for the follow! See you in the blogosphere:).

@Lydia: Melted butter on sweet potatoes is awesome. But with my sweet tooth I add cinnamon and Stevia!

@Carol: Thanks for following me! Hope you enjoy this recipe:). I could live off of sweet potatoes!