Nigerian Chicken Stew Recipe
This Nigerian Chicken Stew is a rich, flavorful dish featuring bone-in chicken pieces simmered in a vibrant tomato and pepper sauce infused with traditional spices. Perfectly seasoned and simmered to tender perfection, this stew is a staple comfort food that pairs wonderfully with white rice, fried plantains, or cauliflower rice for a satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 80 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Stew
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 2.5 lbs bone-in chicken (thighs or drumsticks), cleaned
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 onion, chopped
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large Roma tomatoes
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 1 small red onion
- 2 scotch bonnet peppers (or 1 for less heat)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1 bouillon cube
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a large bowl, season the cleaned chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, paprika, curry powder, thyme, and the chopped onion. Mix well to coat the chicken evenly and let it marinate for 30 minutes to enhance the flavors.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken pieces and sear them, cooking until browned on both sides. Once browned, remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a blender, combine the Roma tomatoes, red bell pepper, small red onion, and scotch bonnet peppers. Blend until you achieve a smooth, thick mixture.
- Cook the Sauce: Using the same skillet, add the tomato paste and fry it for about 2 minutes to bring out its flavor. Pour in the blended tomato and pepper sauce, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Season the Stew: Add garlic powder, ginger powder, the bouillon cube, and salt to the sauce. Stir thoroughly to combine all the spices evenly throughout the stew.
- Simmer: Return the seared chicken pieces to the skillet with the sauce. Cover and simmer on low heat for 25–30 minutes or until the chicken is tender and the sauce has thickened to a rich stew consistency.
- Serve: Serve the Nigerian chicken stew hot alongside white rice, fried plantains, or cauliflower rice for a delicious, hearty meal.
Notes
- Adjust the number of scotch bonnet peppers to control the heat level.
- Use bone-in chicken for more flavor and juiciness.
- Make sure to brown the chicken well to develop a deep, rich flavor in the stew.
- Serve with starch sides like white rice or plantains for a traditional experience.
Keywords: Nigerian chicken stew, spicy chicken stew, African chicken recipe, tomato chicken stew, traditional Nigerian food
Find it online: https://jedentaglecker.com/nigerian-chicken-stew-recipe/
