Nigerian Chicken Stew Recipe
This Nigerian Chicken Stew is a flavorful and spicy one-pot dish featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a rich blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, and traditional spices. Perfectly balanced with a hint of heat from habanero peppers, this hearty stew makes a delicious and comforting meal for family and friends.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lbs chicken thighs
- Salt, to rub on chicken
- Black pepper, to rub on chicken
Vegetables and Sauce
- 3 tomatoes
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 habanero pepper (use 1/2 if you prefer less heat)
- 1 onion (divided: half chopped, half for blending)
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 cup chicken stock (broth)
- 1 tsp bouillon powder
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Extra salt and black pepper (for the chicken rub)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Wash the chicken thighs and pat them dry thoroughly. Rub salt and black pepper evenly over each piece of chicken and place them in a bowl to marinate briefly.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Place the chicken thighs in the pan and brown each side for about 10 minutes until golden and partially cooked. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Prepare the Vegetables: Cut the onion into two halves. Chop one half finely and set aside. Blend the remaining half of the onion together with tomatoes, red bell pepper, and habanero pepper until smooth.
- Sauté Onions: In the same pan with the residual oil, sauté the chopped onions until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Cook the Sauce: Pour the blended tomato and pepper mixture into the pan with the sautéed onions. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Simmer the Stew: Add the browned chicken back to the pan along with the chicken stock, bouillon powder, black pepper, curry powder, thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Final Cooking: Taste the stew and adjust salt as necessary. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through and tender, allowing the stew to thicken and deepen in flavor.
Notes
- Use half a habanero pepper if you prefer a milder stew.
- Chicken thighs are preferred for this recipe as they remain juicy and flavorful when cooked in stew.
- You can substitute chicken stock with water if unavailable, but stock enhances the stew’s richness.
- Adjust seasoning to taste especially the salt and pepper according to your preference.
- Serve the stew hot with rice, yams, or bread for a complete meal.
Keywords: Nigerian chicken stew, spicy chicken stew, tomato chicken stew, traditional Nigerian recipe, chicken thighs stew
Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/nigerian-chicken-stew-recipe/