How To Makebrown Stew Chicken
Why Does My Brown Stew Chicken Taste Bitter
Your brown stew chicken will taste bitter if you have added too much of the browning sauce to the chicken. The browning sauce is made from caramelised sugar, and too much makes whatever you are cooking taste bitter.
If instead, you used brown sugar to brown the chicken and the stew tasted bitter, it is because you burnt the sugar for too long before adding the chicken.
Follow the recipe below, and you wont have a problem getting your Jamaican stew chicken tasting great.
Q: What Kind Of Chicken Should I Use For This Recipe
A: You can use any type of chicken for this recipe, but we recommend using bone-in dark meat .
Q: Can I make this recipe in the slow cooker?
A: Yes, you can make this recipe in the slow cooker. Simply add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. However, as a first step you’ll want brown the chicken in a skillet first.
Q: What can I serve with this recipe?
A: This recipe goes well with rice, quinoa, or fonio. For a complete meal, you can also add a side of steamed vegetables or Jamaican cabbage.
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How To Make A Slurry
Combine 2 tablespoons flour with 1 cup of water or broth and shake very well. Pour the slurry a little at a time into the boiling chicken stew while stirring. Once your stew is thickened, allow it to boil for a couple of minutes.
Youll want to make sure your flour mixture has no lumps before you add it, I use a shaker jar or mason jar and shake really well.
The Best Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
Jump To Recipe 14 reviewspostedQuin Liburd
Theres nothing like authentic Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken at all. Incredibly flavorful stewed chicken pieces that are braised to perfection until fall-off-the-bone tender in heaps of aromatics and spices. An insanely scrumptious chicken dinner with a taste of flavor-forward ingredients all over, youll love this Caribbean favorite!
It should be no surprise how much I love Caribbean food. Its in my blood and it always signifies warmth and cozy-comfort to me. To say that West Indian food hits different is an understatement. Something about the way we cook our food, the aromatics, the spices, the techniqueswhew. Whenever I dont make these dishes myself at home, I know the nearest spot in town to get my fix, ha!
Island recipes are loaded with flavorrr, yall. The spices are heavily abundant and very much a crowd pleaser because we just dont play around. My family is from St. Thomas, USVI and we grew up eating brown stew chicken like clockwork. Its def a family-favorite chicken dinner that hits the spot and never gets old.
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How To Thicken Chicken Stew
Sweet potatoes are a great addition to this hearty chicken stew recipe and they do soften quite a bit, this helps thicken it. The flour added at the beginning will thicken this chicken stew but you can certainly thicken it more if youd like!
You can use a mixture of either cornstarch or flour with broth or water. I find cornstarch is less likely to be lumpy but flour tends to reheat/freeze better so the choice is yours! You can also add instant potatoes to thicken a little bit at a time.
For Best Results Use Chicken Thighs
Look, I know some people really dont like dark meat, but that those tender chicken thighs really take this dish to the next level. I strongly advise against using chicken breast, but if you must, opt for a bone-in chicken breast for a little more flavor, then just shred and remove the bones after the stew simmers.
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Brown Stew Chicken Without Browning
Browning sauce helps to give the chicken its golden brown colour helps to give the chicken its golden brown colour. If you want to cook brown stew chicken without using the browning sauce, there are a few options.
You can eliminate it from the recipe and only brown the chicken in the oil before braising down. The only issue is that your stew will not have the colour Jamaican brown stew chicken is known to have.
The next option is to add a small amount of brown sugar to the oil, let it melt then add the chicken to brown. Browning sauce is basically burnt brown sugar, which means you are making your own browning sauce. If your reason to eliminate browning from the recipe is to avoid sugar, then this option is not for you.
Lastly, you could use soy or oyster sauce, but your brown stew chicken wont have that authentic Jamaican taste.
What Is Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
Jamaican brown stew chicken is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a winter meal. The chicken is simmered in a flavorful brown gravy, and the dish is often served with rice and beans.
The key to making this dish truly authentically Jamaican is to use a browning sauce, which gives the gravy its characteristic dark color. While this dish may take some time to prepare, it is well worth the effort, and your family and friends will be sure to enjoy it.
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How To Cook A Stewing Chicken
Most chickens sold in American supermarkets are slaughtered when very young and tender, to provide the greatest possible versatility in cooking. The only problem with this practice is that the birds are rather bland, because they haven’t lived long enough to develop a strong chicken flavor. That’s not the case with stewing chickens — larger older hens and roosters that have lived long, full chicken lives. Although they’re too tough for many popular recipes, their rich flavor makes them perfect for soups and stews.
How To Make Stew Thicker
This chicken stew recipe is not overly thick as some stew recipes out there but you can easily change that. Here are a few ways to make the stew thicker:
Create a thicker slurry. A slurry is a combination of flour and broth which is mixed together and used to thicken the stew. Feel free to add an extra tablespoon of flour to the broth to create a thicker slurry. For a gluten-free option, use arrowroot powder.
Simmer with the lid off. Make sure to simmer the stew with the lid off for the last 18-20 minutes of cooking. That way the liquid is reduced as more water evaporates, resulting in a thicker stew.
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What To Serve It With
Chicken basically goes with anything, whether it is fried or brown stew. What you serve brown stew chicken with depends on the day you are serving it.
If having it for Sunday dinner, you might serve it with rice and peas. Any other day serve it with any other rice dish.
Dont feel like having rice, brown stew chicken also goes well with hard food.
Soup Recipes For The Ultimate Fall And Winter Meal
For me, the #1, all-time most comforting thing I can cook is soup. Of course, Ive got to throw in some stew or chili recipes, but the feeling is the same. Hearty, with a warm and fuzzy feeling, is what Im striving for.
Thats what youll get with this collection of 17 recipes for the ultimate fall and winter meal. Not only are these recipes delicious, but they are also easy to make and are great for leftovers.
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Few Recipes Notes & Tips
- For best results use boneless, skinless, chicken thighs. They have extra flavor after searing and also simmer into tender little morsels. Make sure to cut the thighs into 2-inch chunks so they do not overcook.
- I do not recommend chicken breast in this recipe. It wont be as tender and flavorful as the thighs. Plus chicken breast is easy to overcook.
- Many of you have asked if this recipe can be made in a crockpot. Recently I tested this recipe in a crockpot and the result was just not the same. Chicken stew is all about building flavor and texture by searing the meat, then the vegetables and aromatics, which is impossible to do in a crockpot. Therefore, I do not recommend making this stew in a crockpot.
Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken Recipe
May 5, 2022
This Deeply flavorful, rich and down right addictive Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken starts with chicken that has been intensely marinated in a variety of aromatic spices then braised down in the best savory liquids resulting in the most comforting Caribbean style stew you can imagine!! Serve with Curry Chicken, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Fried Plantains and Jamaican Rice and Peas and have the Sunday supper your family deserves.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Id like to have it been said that my personal diet does not strictly consist of all things sugar, thank you very much. Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt shy away from a slice of leftover pie for breakfast but Im also a sucker for all things savory.
Some of the best recipes I adore originate from the Caribbean: the spice blends jampack all of the food with layers of flavor. Having spent time in a ton of places in the Caribbean including Jamaica , I was able to taste firsthand the incredible food they have to offer. Jamaica residents have come from around the globe, bringing with them the cooking techniques, flavors, spices and recipes of their homelands and blending them with the bountiful harvest of this tropical island. The result is some of the most flavorful cuisine in the Caribbean.
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What Is Browning Sauce How To Make Browning Sauce
Browning sauce is a Caribbean sauce made with the following:
It is a sauce that many Caribbean inspired dishes calls for. It adds a wonderful depth of flavor, and it adds a gorgeous dark color to sauce, meats and stews according to my bro Laz.
The brand suggested for this recipe is the Grace brand which is labeled as Browning. No need to make your own unless you have time but if you want, combine the ingredients above and make your own for some extra homemade goodness.
Ingredients For Chicken Stew Recipe
The reason why this chicken stew is a favorite around here is that its made with simple, pantry ingredients. Heres what youll need for the stew:
Chicken thighs: For best flavor use boneless, skinless thighs. I do not recommend chicken breast or rotisserie chicken.
Avocado oil: Youll need high-smoke oil, such as avocado oil or something similar for searing chicken thighs and vegetables.
Vegetables: Carrots, sweet onion, and baby potatoes. Cut your vegetables into larger chunks so they do not overcook. Carrots should be sliced 1/2-inch thick. Slice the onion into 12 wedges. Baby white potatoes or Yukon golds are the best potatoes for the stew. Baby potatoes should be quartered and Yukon golds cut into about 1 3/4-inch chunks.
Garlic: Use fresh garlic. Avoid jarred or anything pre-chopped.
Chicken broth or stock: Either one is fine to use. Use good-quality stock, whether homemade or store-bought. Bone broth is even better if you dont mind spending a little more.
All-purpose flour: This will thicken the stew.
Bay leaf: Feel free to use dried or fresh bay leaves. Dried bay leaves are easier to find at most supermarkets in the spice aisle. A lot of times you can find fresh bay leaves in the produce section near fresh herbs.
Fresh parsley: Not a fan of parsley? Try fresh dill instead.
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What To Serve With Brown Stew Chicken
Brown Stew Chicken is best served over rice and peas, which I also just posted today from Laz because you need both for a wonderful Jamaican style meal. They are like two peas in a pod.
Also serving with fried plantains is wonderful as well and maybe a slice of my Pineapple Rum Cake. When all is said and done, youre left with a comforting plate of Caribbean flavors that will transport you to an island vacation with every bite.
For other incredible comforting recipes, make sure you check out these:
- Rice and Peas recipe found here
What Goes In It
Here are the ingredients required for Jamaican brown stew chicken:
- Chicken: In Jamaican, we use the whole chicken when making brown stew chicken, which means the chicken back and breast is in the finished dish. As the chicken is cooked for more than 30 minutes, the breast may be a little chewy for some. If you dont want this, use chicken pieces. Also, skin-less chicken works better for this dish.
- Powder seasoning: Use chicken, poultry or all-purpose seasoning.
- Jamaican flavour: Scallion, thyme and scotch bonnet pepper add that Jamaican flavour to the dish. If you use fresh or dry thyme, it does matter as you will still get the Jamaican flavour.
- Bell pepper, onion, tomato, garlic: The traditional vegetables are included in the sauce. These are cooked really soft you can barely see them when the stew is finished.
- Oops! I missed some: Missing from the image above is pimento , ginger, and chicken stock/broth. I used Knorr stock pot chicken.
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Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
Sunday 27th of December 2020
Oh my god, that stew looks scrumptious! The richness of the stew is mindblowing.
Adriana
Sunday 27th of December 2020
I am always looking for flavorful chicken dishes. This is definitely one that I need to try once the holidays are over.
Adriana
Sunday 27th of December 2020
I am always looking for flavorful chicken dishes. This is definitely one that I need to try once teh holidays are over.
Jacqueline Debono
Sunday 27th of December 2020
I don’t think I’ve ever tried Jamaican food but this chicken stew looks so good. I love spicy dishes and imagine this has quite a kick!
How To Make Stew Chicken Stew
- Step 1: Over high heat, cook chicken until brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
- Step 2: Add carrots and onions. Cook until the onions begin to soften. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Deglaze the dutch oven with some of the chicken stock.
- Step 3: Make a slurry by whisking flour with 1/2 cup broth in a small bowl. Add to the dutch oven. Stir in chicken, remaining broth, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 25 minutes over medium-low heat.
- Step 4: Add potatoes and cook until potatoes are tender. Stir in parsley and discard bay leaf before serving.
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What Is Chicken Stew
Chicken stew is like chicken soups older cousin that is a little rough around the edges. Its a little more rustic with a rich, thickened broth that has an almost gravy-like consistency. Its packed full of vegetables and is a true meal in a bowl. Oh, and youll definitely want some crusty bread for sopping up all that delicious gravy!
Tips + Tricks For Recipe Success
Heres some additional info on this Jamaican brown stew chicken recipe
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Make The Brown Stew Chicken Base
Next, remove the browned chicken pieces and place them on a holding plate. To the pot add the chopped onion, carrots, and bell peppers. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened.
Add the chicken pieces back to the pot. Then add the ketchup, brown sugar, browning seasoning, bay leaves, and water. Stir well and cover. Simmer the stew for 20 minutes. Give it a stir a couple of times as it cooks to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Remove the lid, stir again, and simmer for another 10 to thicken the gravy.
Taste the chicken stew, then salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.