Chicken Stew

Tired of boring beef stew? Me too! This chicken stew was great even without the prerequisite dumplings…

• Chicken Stew
  Ingredients
  5 cups (1.25 L) chicken stock
  4 lb (1.8 kg) skinned chicken thighs
  7 small carrots, peeled (WHY?) and cut in half diagonally
  4 potatoes, peeled and cubed I used yams peeled and cubed
  2 cups (500 mL) peeled pearl onions or 1 chopped white onion
• 1 red pepper diced
  3 tbsp (45 mL) butter
  3 chopped celery stalks
  2 cups (500 mL) button mushrooms or 1 small can
  1/3 cup (75 mL) all-purpose flour
  1 tsp (5 mL) dried thyme
  1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
  1/2 tsp (2 mL) pepper
  1/2 cup (125 mL) peas, frozen or 1 small can
• 1 platano chopped coarsely
  1/4 cup (60 mL) whipping cream I omitted this and used the chopped platano to thicken it. Can you tell I am into platanos?

Preparation
In a large Dutch oven, bring chicken stock to boil. Add chicken; cover and simmer over medium-low heat until juices run clear when chicken is pierced, about 30 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer to plate; let cool. Remove meat from bones; cut into bite-size chunks.Better still start with boneless thighs and save some time.

Add carrots, pepper, celery and potatoes to stock; cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add (pearl) onions; simmer, covered, just until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to plate. If necessary, add more chicken stock to make 5 cups (1.25 L). OR just add more water…

In same pan, melt butter over medium-high heat; cook celery, onion and mushrooms, stirring often, until softened, about 8 minutes. Truthfully I just threw them into the pot with the stock and veggies. Add flour, thyme, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.  Bring to boil, stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring often, for about 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat back of spoon. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pan. Add carrot mixture, peas and cream* (if using), or the chopped platano stirring to combine.

If you are ambitious make up a batch of dumplings. They really are not necessary…This makes great leftovers!

Author: reg45

Canadian guy living part time in Progreso, Yucatan. View all posts by reg45