West African Chicken Thighs Recipes

AFRICAN CHICKEN (MACANESE ONE-PAN CHICKEN CURRY, 非洲鸡)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 C).
• Combine all the ingredients of the spice mix. Sprinkle on both sides of the chicken.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add chicken, skin side down. Cook until both sides turn dark brown and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken onto a big plate.
• Turn to medium heat. Add the rest of the 1 tablespoon of olive oil and onion. Cook until it becomes tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add ginger and garlic. Stir fry for 30 seconds, to release the aroma.
• Add paprika powder and curry powder. Stir until the ingredients are well coated with spices, 20 to 30 seconds.
• Add chicken stock, coconut milk, peanut butter, oyster sauce, and bay leaves. Stir with a spatula to dissolve the peanut butter until it's well blended with the sauce. Bring to the boil.
• Add potato, peppers, and chicken to the curry. Transfer the pan to the oven. Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the skin crispy, about 45 minutes.
• Serve hot over steamed rice.

PERI PERI AFRICAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the paprika, chili powder, lemon juice, garlic, ginger and salt. Rub chicken with the mixture, place in a dish, and marinate for 3 hours.
• Preheat a grill for medium heat.
• Place chicken onto the grill and discard the marinade. Cook for about 30 minutes, turning occasionally, until the skin is slightly charred and juices run clear.

WEST AFRICAN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-heat heat; cook the chicken in the skillet until completely brown, 5 to 7 minutes; remove and set aside. Add the onion, potatoes, garlic, pepper, salt, coriander, cumin, and red pepper to the skillet and cook until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the water, chicken broth, and peanut butter. Return the chicken to the skillet and top with the spinach. Cover and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through, about 20 minutes.

NIGERIAN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• Wash and pat dry the chicken.
• Rub the chicken thighs with salt and black pepper, and leave them in a bowl.
• Heat olive oil in a pan.
• Brown the chicken on each side (about 10 minutes each).
• Cut the onion into two and chop one part into small pieces.
• When the chicken is done, take it out and set it aside.
• Blend the tomatoes, red bell pepper, habanero pepper, and the other half of the onion.
• Sauté the chopped onion in the oil till translucent.
• Pour the blended tomato and pepper mix and boil for 5 minutes.
• Add chicken, stock, bouillon, curry, and thyme.
• Taste for salt and add more if necessary.
• Cook for 20 minutes or until chicken is done.

NORTH AFRICAN CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• In a 3- or 4-qt. slow cooker, combine onion and oil. Place chicken thighs on top of onion; sprinkle with next 7 ingredients. Top with raisins, olives, lemon and garlic. Add broth. Cook, covered, on low until chicken is tender, 4-5 hours. Serve with hot cooked rice.

WEST AFRICAN CHICKEN STEW (FROM WELL FED 2)

Steps:

• Cut each chicken thigh into 4-5 pieces and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large saucepan, casserole dish or a deep frying pan over medium-high heat and melt the coconut oil. Add chicken pieces and brown well on both sides, about 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken to a bowl, including all the juices.
• In the same saucepan, cook the onion and ginger for about 5-6 minutes on low/medium heat. Add garlic, coriander, paprika, chilli, bay leave and cloves and cook for about 30 seconds to release the aromas. Add tomatoes and water and stir to combine. Add the chicken pieces back in, together with the juices, stir and increase the heat to bring the pot to boil. Then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes with the lid on.
• In the original recipe you will remove the chicken from the pot after 25 minutes but I missed that step so I added the cashew or sunflower butter and vanilla to the pot with the chicken in it and mixed to combine and dissolve. Otherwise you would have to add the chicken back in after you've added the butter and vanilla. My way worked just fine as well. Stir and cook all together for a few more minutes, uncovered. Taste for seasoning and add a generous pinch of salt if you wish...I did. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or chopped spring onion and extra sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
• We served this stew with a side of pan-fried silver beet/chard, green beans, zucchini and carrots.

BAKED AFRICAN SWEET POTATO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
• Season the chicken with coriander, salt, turmeric, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
• Add the vegetable oil to a large skillet on medium-high heat.
• Add onions to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
• Add in the sweet potatoes, mango, peanut butter, diced tomatoes (with liquids), and soy sauce.
• Cook for 4-5 minutes until the sauce is simmering.
• Pour the vegetable mixture into the bottom of the baking dish.
• Place chicken thighs, skin side up, into the baking dish.
• Cook, uncovered for 45-50 minutes until skin is browned and crispy.

WEST AFRICAN PEANUT SOUP WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Chop peanuts, or crush them with the side of a knife, or pulse them in a food processor to chop roughly.
• Put oil in a deep skillet or medium saucepan over medium heat; a minute later, add onion, ginger and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add chicken and continue cooking for another 3 or 4 minutes, until just coloring. Add 1/2 cup peanuts and the cayenne and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the stock and the sweet potatoes, bring to a boil, and turn heat down to medium-low so the soup bubbles gently. Stir in tomatoes and collards, then cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in 1/4 cup peanut butter. Taste, adjust seasoning (you may want to add more peanut butter at this point) and serve, garnished with remaining peanuts.

WEST AFRICAN CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• To make the paste: in a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and cayenne; whisk in the canola oil.
• Trim the chicken thighs of any excess skin and fat; rinse under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
• Coat chicken thighs with the paste; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4-8 hours.
• Sear the chicken thighs, skin side down over Direct Medium heat for 4 minutes, turning once halfway through searing time.
• Continue grilling over Indirect Medium heat for about 30-40 minutes or until the juices run clear and the meat is no longer pink; serve warm.

WEST AFRICAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy pan and fry chicken and onion until golden.
• Add curry powder and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously.
• Add remaining ingredients, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

AFRICAN CHICKEN & SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place chicken in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sweet potatoes; cook and stir 10-12 minutes or until tender. In a small bowl, mix chutney and peanut butter; stir into sweet potatoes. Add tomatoes; heat through., Spoon potato mixture over chicken. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175°.