NORTH AFRICAN CHICKEN AND SPINACH STEW
This dish is my mother's interpretation of a meal we had at a friend's birthday party when we were young. We came home raving about it and had to try making it for ourselves!
Provided by Jazz Smollett-Warwell
Categories HarperCollins HarperCollins Dinner Chicken Soup/Stew Stew Spinach Paprika Oregano Rice Cinnamon Garlic
Yield 4-6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- PLACE the chicken in a large pot and cover it with water. Add the celery, carrot, onion, and bay leaves and season with 1 tablespoon salt. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
- REMOVE the chicken to a deep dish or bowl and let it drain. Strain the stock into a large bowl or pan and set aside. Transfer the vegetables from the strainer to a blender (remove the bay leaves), add the garlic, and puree until completely smooth. Set aside.
- TO make the spinach stew, in a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. When it's bubbling slightly, add the vegetable puree. Warm it through, about 2 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, the pepper, and the cinnamon stick, then add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of the reserved stock and bring to a simmer. Cook to let the flavors develop, about 15 minutes. Reduce the heat and keep warm (remove the cinnamon stick before serving).
- MEANWHILE, when the chicken is cool enough to handle, pat it completely dry and break it down into 8 pieces: 2 thighs, 2 wings, and 2 breasts, then split the breasts in half. Place the chicken pieces in a large dish. Combine the granulated onion, granulated garlic, paprika, cayenne, oregano, and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Completely coat the chicken in this dry rub.
- MELT the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the chicken pieces and sear until charred in spots, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side, 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- SERVE the chicken with rice and a generous ladle of spinach stew. Squeeze lemon over the plate if desired.
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Nyoami Evans
[email protected]This dish was a bit too spicy for me, but I still enjoyed it. The chicken was cooked well and the spinach was fresh. I would recommend this recipe to others who enjoy spicy food.
patty bond
[email protected]I'm not a huge fan of spinach, but this dish was surprisingly good. The chicken was tender and the sauce was flavorful. I would definitely make this again.
Mykel Hill
[email protected]**5 stars!** This dish was amazing! The flavors were incredible and the chicken was cooked to perfection. I highly recommend this recipe.
OSEI EDITH
[email protected]This stew was easy to make and packed with flavor. I especially loved the combination of chicken and spinach. I will definitely be making this again.
Jeff Turner
[email protected]I made this dish last night and it was a hit with my family! Everyone loved the flavors and the chicken was so tender. I will definitely be adding this to my regular rotation of recipes.
Geovana Gomes
[email protected]This dish was absolutely delicious! The chicken was cooked perfectly and the spinach was wilted just the right amount. The flavors were complex and well-balanced, and the stew was incredibly flavorful. I will definitely be making this again soon.