Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken with Yard Gravy

Scotch bonnet chili




Though the sun is shining it's another cold day, so a one pot comfort dish is required for tonights dinner.  This is a very traditional Jamaican dish that has heat and is packed with flavour.  An easy dish to make but requires the chicken to marinate overnight.  I tend to serve it with steamed buttered rice and flatbreads.  Give it a go.

16 pieces of chicken (leg, thigh, breast), skinned
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp all-purpose seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse ground black pepper
2 tsp chicken seasoning
400ml/ 14fl oz vegetable oil
3 spring onions, chopped
2 onions, chopped
1 Scotch bonnet chilli, deseeded and chopped (available in Asian shops)
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1/2 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
knob of butter

Rub the chicken all over with the lemon juice to remove traces of the skin.  Put the chicken in a non-metallic dish and sprinkle over the salt, the all-purpose seasoning, black pepper and chicken seasoning.  Get your hands in and rub the seasonings in to give the meat a good flavour.  Cover the dish with cling film and refrigerate overnight.

Heat the oil in a large pan until really hot

Remove the chicken from the seasoning, reserving the seasoning mix for later.  Gently fry the chicken on all sides for about 5 minutes until browned, you will need to do this in batches. When all the chicken has been browned carefully scoop out most of the oil, leaving a small amount in the bottom.  On a gentle heat 'sweat' the spring onions, onions, chilli, garlic and peppers in the remaining oil for about 5 minutes.

Return the chicken to the pot, tip in the reserved seasoning mixture. Pour in 450ml/16fl oz of boiling water or vegetable stock, add the butter, then cover and simmer for about 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid is reduced to a nice gravy. If the gravy looks too thin, remove lid, increase heat slightly and simmer for another 10-15 minutes.

This will serve 4-6 peaople, or will reheat nicely.  Use any leftovers within 2 days.

                                                                                               Love and peace people

                                                                                                                          Cluski