Description
Hearty Portuguese pot chicken stew delivers comfort with rich, aromatic flavors simmered to perfection. Tender chicken, herbs, and traditional spices create a soul-warming meal you’ll savor down to the last delicious spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into chunks
- 4 cups (950 milliliters) chicken broth
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 medium potatoes, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- ½ cup frozen peas (optional, for sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
Cooking and Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional, for depth of flavor)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Warm a generously sized pot or Dutch oven with olive oil over robust medium-high temperature, creating a sizzling cooking surface.
- Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with a robust blend of salt, pepper, and paprika, ensuring complete seasoning coverage.
- Expertly sear chicken segments until they develop a golden-brown exterior, approximately 3-4 minutes per side, then carefully transfer to a holding plate.
- Utilize the same pot to transform onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and celery into a fragrant vegetable medley, sautéing until ingredients become slightly translucent and tender.
- Introduce aromatic thyme, oregano, and a single bay leaf to elevate the flavor profile, allowing herbs to release their essential oils for approximately one minute.
- Incorporate chicken broth and tomato paste, stirring vigorously to create a harmonious liquid base that will become the stew’s foundation.
- Gently reintroduce the seared chicken pieces into the bubbling liquid mixture, bringing the entire concoction to a rolling boil.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover the pot, and allow ingredients to meld together for 25-30 minutes, ensuring vegetables reach peak tenderness and chicken cooks completely.
- Integrate frozen peas during the final cooking stage, providing a burst of color and subtle sweetness.
- For those desiring a more substantial consistency, whisk flour with a small amount of broth, then fold into the stew, allowing the mixture to thicken for an additional 5 minutes.
- Discard the bay leaf, sprinkle fresh parsley as a vibrant garnish, and serve this hearty stew alongside crusty bread or fluffy rice.
Notes
- Enhance chicken flavor by marinating in herbs and spices for 30 minutes before cooking to boost depth and tenderness.
- Select bone-in chicken pieces for richer, more robust taste and extra moisture during slow cooking process.
- Customize stew for dietary needs by replacing chicken with tofu or plant-based protein alternatives for vegetarian version.
- Control stew consistency by adjusting liquid levels – add more broth for soupier texture or reduce for thicker, heartier meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg