Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

 Jamaican Stew Chicken is a versatile dish, perfect for breakfast or dinner. In Jamaica, we don't typically eat lunch unless we're at work, and stew chicken is often considered a healthier option compared to fried chicken due to the smaller amount of oil used.

Jamaican brown stew chicken in a plate on a table

Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs. chicken (half cut into medium-sized pieces)

  • 1 tsp. white vinegar (to wash chicken)

  • 2 cups water

  • A pinch of salt

  • 1 tsp. Maggie All Purpose seasoning

  • 1 tsp. paprika

  • 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning

  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

  • 1/2 tsp. food browning (adjust as needed)

  • 1/4 tsp. ground pimento or a few crushed pimento seeds (optional)

  • 1 large onion (diced)

  • 1-inch piece of ginger (peeled and diced, optional)

  • 2 cloves garlic (crushed and diced)

  • A few slices of hot pepper (to taste)

  • 2 tbsp. vegetable oil (or oil of your choice)

  • 2 cups water (for cooking)

  • 1 tbsp. ketchup (optional)

Recipe Details

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1 hour marination)

  • Cook Time: 45–50 minutes

  • Total Time: 1 hour 65 minutes (including marination)

  • Servings: 3–4

  • Cuisine: Jamaican

  • Course: Main dish

  • Diet: Gluten-free (optional, without ketchup)

Jamaican brown stew chicken with dumplings in a plate

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken:

  1. Wash the chicken: Cut half of a 3 lb. chicken into medium-sized pieces. You can remove the skin if you prefer. To clean the chicken, mix 1 tsp. white vinegar with 2 cups of water. Wash the chicken pieces with this solution to remove any slime.

  2. Drain and dry: After washing, drain the chicken well and pat dry with a paper towel to ensure all the water is gone.

2. Season the Chicken:

  1. Season the chicken: In a container, season the chicken with a pinch of salt, 1 tsp. Maggie All Purpose, 1 tsp. paprika, 1 tsp. Old Bay, and 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper.

  2. Add food browning: Add 1/2 tsp. food browning (use a little more if needed, but be careful not to overdo it as too much browning can make the chicken taste bitter).

  3. Optional spices: Add a few crushed pimento seeds or 1/4 tsp. ground pimento for extra flavor.

  4. Fresh herbs: Since fresh herbs can be hard to find post-Hurricane Melissa, I used 1 large onion, 1-inch piece of ginger (peeled and diced), 2 cloves garlic (crushed and diced), and a few slices of hot pepper. These ingredients add that authentic Jamaican flavor to the chicken.

  5. Massage the seasonings: Use your hands to rub the salt, spices, and browning into the chicken pieces. Mix in the onion, ginger, garlic, and hot pepper. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least an hour.

3. Cook the Chicken:

  1. Heat the oil: In a medium-sized pot (or your preferred size), add 2 tbsp. vegetable oil or the oil of your choice. Heat the oil on low heat until it starts to get hot but not smoking.

  2. Stew the chicken: Add the seasoned chicken to the hot oil. Do not add water yet. Cover the pot and allow the chicken to cook in its own juices. This is an important step as it helps develop the color and flavor.

  3. Turn the chicken: Open the pot, turn the chicken, then cover again. Let it continue cooking in its own juices.

4. Make the Gravy:

  1. Add water: Once the chicken starts to fry and the oil is visibly reduced, add 2 cups of water. Turn the heat up to medium-high and let the chicken cook until the water reduces and thickens into a gravy-like consistency.

  2. Adjust seasoning: Taste the gravy and add more salt if needed. For an extra touch of flavor, add 1 tbsp. ketchup (optional, but a common Jamaican addition).

5. Serve:

Once the gravy reaches your desired consistency, remove the pot from the heat. Serve your Jamaican Stew Chicken with your choice of hard-boiled food, white rice, or rice and peas.

Note:

You may have seen some variations where people add carrots to their stew chicken. While this is a personal preference, it's not part of the traditional Jamaican stew chicken recipe. I prefer not to use carrots as it alters the dish’s flavor.

Recipe Tips:

  • Browning: Be cautious when adding food browning, as too much can make the chicken bitter.

  • Hot pepper: Adjust the amount of hot pepper based on your spice tolerance





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