Description
Rich, hearty chicken stew delivers comforting Mediterranean flavors that dance across your palate with robust herbs and tender meat. Simmered slowly with aromatic vegetables and fragrant spices, this soul-warming dish invites you to savor each spoonful of culinary warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 kg (2 lbs) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 500 g (1 lb) potatoes, diced (Yukon gold or red potatoes work best)
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into pieces (optional)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Transform chicken into delectable morsels by searing in a spacious pot with olive oil over medium-high heat. Season generously with salt and pepper, creating a golden exterior. Extract chicken and reserve momentarily.
- Utilize the same pot’s residual flavor base. Introduce onions, garlic, carrots, and celery, allowing them to soften and release aromatic essences.
- Incorporate tomato paste, creating a rich foundation. Cascade chicken broth, water, and herbaceous companions: thyme, rosemary, smoked paprika, and bay leaf. Nestle potatoes into the liquid landscape.
- Reintroduce seared chicken pieces, allowing them to meld with emerging flavors. Elevate temperature to boiling point, then reduce to gentle simmer.
- Allow stew to evolve for approximately 30 minutes, ensuring vegetables become tender and chicken reaches perfect doneness.
- For enhanced texture, whisk flour or cornstarch with water to create a silky thickening agent. Integrate into bubbling stew, watching liquid transform.
- Introduce vibrant peas and green beans during final cooking moments, infusing additional color and nutritional complexity.
- Eliminate bay leaf, presenting a rustic masterpiece garnished with fresh parsley. Accompany with crusty bread for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Searing the chicken creates a golden crust that locks in flavor and adds depth to the stew’s overall taste profile.
- Choose bone-in chicken thighs for richer, more tender meat that falls off the bone during slow cooking.
- Swap chicken for turkey or plant-based protein to accommodate different dietary preferences without losing the stew’s comforting essence.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium broth and controlling salt during the cooking process, making this dish heart-friendly and adaptable for health-conscious eaters.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg