Habari Gani? Peanut-Tomato Chicken Stew

Peanut-Tomato Chicken Stew

These past couple of years, a few food blogger friends and I, contributed recipes to KwanzaaCulinarians.com. This would’ve been our third year, but I needed to rest. I regret that we failed our fans in this decision, but this is a better solution for me. In addition to taking a relaxing vacation from my 9 to 5 job, I’m enjoying this time of year more than requesting 31 food bloggers and chefs to take time from their busy schedules to write Kwanzaa-inspired stories and recipes.

I’m always grateful when food writers say yes to writing about Kwanzaa and contributing their recipes, for they never disappoint me. They understand it’s for the spirit of the community.

During this relaxing holiday week, I made a West-African Inspired Peanut-Tomato Chicken Stew. It’s definitely an Americanized recipe, but if you want authentic West African recipes, visit Funke Koleosho’s Contemporary Nigerian Cuisine (she’s contributed to KwanzaaCulinarians.com). If you want more Kwanzaa-inspired recipes, visit the index here.

Since the first year of KwanzaaCulinarians, I’ve wanted to contact food bloggers and chefs earlier in the year to contribute stories. This year, with increased opportunity to freelance write for other online publications, there was far less time to commit to a seasonal food blog. Perhaps in 2014, with better planning, we’ll see new recipes for KwanzaaCulinarians.com.

Until then, eat well and enjoy your holiday.

Peanut-Tomato Chicken Stew

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. coconut or peanut oil; more as needed
  • 1 lb. skinless and boneless chicken breast; seasoned with salt and pepper; cut into 1 inch chunks
  • 1 large red onion; minced
  • 4 carrots; diced
  • 1 green bell pepper; diced
  • 1 jalapeno; diced
  • 2 to 3 celery stalks; diced*
  • 2 to 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
  • Sea salt; as needed
  • Fresh black pepper; as needed
  • (Optional) Crushed Red Pepper; as needed
  • 3 garlic cloves; minced
  • 3 inch piece fresh ginger; minced
  • (Optional) ½ cup red wine
  • 32 oz. low-sodium chicken broth
  • 28 oz. canned diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 tbsp. tomato paste
  • A few twigs of fresh thyme wrapped in twine or 2 tbsp. dried thyme
  • ½ cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tbsp. minced fresh oregano
  • 1 to 2 bay leaves
  • 2 to 3 small sweet potatoes or yams; unpeeled and cut into ½” chunks
  • ½ cup unsweetened, plain creamy peanut butter
  • 16 oz. green beans; ends trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • Garnish (Not pictured): Roughly chopped sweet and hot cherry peppers or peppadews

Directions

  1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium temperature. Add chicken and occasionally stir until thoroughly cooked. Remove chicken to a paper-towel lined plate.
  2. Add about a teaspoon of oil to the pot. Stir in onion, carrots, green bell pepper, jalapeno, celery, cinnamon sticks, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper, and optional crushed red pepper. Frequently stir until the vegetables are soft, about six to eight minutes.
  3. Stir in chicken, garlic and ginger for about one minute. Pour in the wine.
  4. When the wine is slightly reduced, add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, thyme, parsley, oregano and bay leaves. Slightly cover and bring to a boil. Adjust seasoning. Reduce temperature to let stew simmer for about 15 minutes and adjust seasoning.
  5. Stir in sweet potatoes/yams and let stew simmer for an additional five minutes. Adjust seasoning. Stir in peanut butter and green beans. Cook for an additional ten minutes.
  6. Ladle stew into individual bowls.
  7. Garnish with sweet and hot cherry peppers or peppadews.

Notes

*If celery leaves are still attached and fresh, mince with parsley.

http://myliferunsonfood.com/2013/12/habari-gani-peanut-tomato-chicken-stew/

Peanut-Tomato Chicken Stew

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4 thoughts on “Habari Gani? Peanut-Tomato Chicken Stew

  • January 10, 2014 at 3:40 am
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    This dish was a party of flavors in my mouth. The ingredients work really well together and surprisingly, my hubby (your basic burger and pizza guy) really liked this. He had 3 servings. Thanks for another great recipe.

  • December 28, 2013 at 6:05 pm
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    Hi Sanura,

    I’ve been a contributor to Kwanzaa Culinarians for the two years, and I proudly display the badge on my site. When I didn’t hear from you last month, I knew it was because of your work with Parade Magazine and because you were keeping up with posts for your own blog. Since I’ve had steady freelance work as well, I know how hard it is to contribute to other blogs and to your own. There are only so many hours available to us, and we have to sleep sometime!

    Please count me in whenever you need bloggers for Kwanzaa Culinarians. If I can get a Kwanzaa post done this week, I’ll send you the link in case you would like to add it to this year’s Kwanzaa Culinarians 2013 list of recipes.

    Happy New Year and continued success to you (you deserve it)!

    Alaiyo

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