Serves 4
2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 Fresno chile, stemmed and chopped
1 orange or yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
¾ cup full-fat plain yogurt
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons Ebi spice blend
2 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
¼ cup Greek olive oil
1 large white onion, peeled and chopped
3 large cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 ½ teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes
3 carrots, peeled and sliced into thin coins
1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
1 can full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
Liberal fistful of cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
½ teaspoon African bird pepper powder (optional)
Cooked white rice
Directions
In a food processor or blender, combine the tomatoes, Fresno chile, bell pepper, yogurt, tomato paste, Ebi spice blend and salt and process until you achieve a smooth consistency. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened, making sure the garlic doesn’t brown.
Add the tomato mixture, stir and bring the pot to a boil. Immediately turn the heat down to low, cover and and allow sauce to simmer for at least 15 minutes.
Stir in the sweet potato, carrots, chicken cubes and coconut milk. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.
Taste and add salt if necessary
Add African bird pepper powder if using
Divide rice equally among four bowls, top with stew and sprinkle each bowl with cilantro leaves.
Cooking Tips
The African bird pepper is an extremely fiery cayenne pepper that grows in parts of Northern Africa. You can omit the powder entirely if you’re adverse to heat or add a bit more if you like your dishes off-the-charts spicy. Fun fact: African bird powder contains carotene molecules, which have potent antioxidant benefits. African bird pepper powder is available at many spice shops and on Amazon.
While I typically serve my chicken stew over rice, it’s every bit as delicious served over a bed of leafy greens, like cooked kale or spinach.
If you have leftovers, the stew can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Triangular Traded Spices, an Atlanta-based boutique spice company from acclaimed chef Cleophus Hethington, honors the diversity of the African diaspora and its communities through its thoughtfully sourced, small-batch, organic and unabashedly bold handcrafted spice blends. At Triangular Traded Spices, we believe that while pure ingredients speak for themselves, fresh, vibrant, high-quality spice blends bring them to life. We developed our Triangular Traded Spice blends to show you — the home cook — just how essential our seasonings are to transforming your own dishes. Check out the FAQ page for more information.
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