A New Continent

I’ve always prided myself on having fairly adventurous tastes when it comes to eating. I like to say that I’d try anything once! But, when it comes to cooking, I’m a bit more reserved. Give me Italian or Asian flavors, and I’m all about them and really know what to do with them. Mexican and Latin flavors are also a forte of mine, and I’m working my way into being more comfortable with Indian spices.

Tonight, I ventured into a new continent. After seeing an African Peanut Stew on a few blogs recently, I knew I had to try it… but you know me! I can’t leave well enough alone. I researched during my lunch today and found a few different recipes that gave me a good idea of the flavor combination I was looking for.

I’m quite pleased with the result, and I made this quite a satisfying meal by serving this stew/stoup atop some steamed bulgur wheat.

African Chicken, Peanut, and Sweet Potato Stew

Ingredients

* 1 lb. chicken breasts, cut into chunks

* 2 medium onions, diced

* 3 medium sweet potatoes, cut into chunks

* 1 Tbsp. olive oil

* 1 tsp. ground coriander

* 1 tsp. garlic powder

* 1 tsp. ground cumin

* 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

* 3/4 c. chunky peanut butter

* 1 1/2 c. broth or water

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large pot with a lid. Add onions and cook over low heat until nearly caramelized, then add chicken and stir well, and cook a few minutes until chicken is lightly browned. Add the chunks of potato, broth and spices, stir well and cover. Cook on low heat about 30 minutes, then uncover and stir in peanut butter. Cook about 10 minutes more until thickened. Serve alone or over a cooked grain.

Definitely a big fan of this one! Sometimes I have no idea how something is going to turn out…usually I eat it anyway, but this one was quite delicious! The peanut butter added enough creaminess that it tasted very rich without being so. Also, the addition of the sweet potatoes in recognition of our favorite sweet potato fan’s 22nd birthday
was a welcome sweetness and thickener as well. This could easily be made vegetarian or vegan with the omission of the chicken and an addition of tofu or black beans. I’ll be making this one again, for sure!

This week will sure to be full of food adventures, as it’s Adam’s birthday week! His actual birthday is Thursday, but I’ve agreed to make him a couple favorites, including a Southern-style feast, yet another thing I’ve never really cooked…

Have a wonderful evening and great Wednesday!

Tagged as: African, chicken, simple recipe, soup, spicy, sweet potato