Chicken and chickpea stew is a hearty and flavorful dish that combines tender chicken, chickpeas, and a variety of aromatic spices. This recipe serves 4 and is perfect for a comforting and satisfying meal. The chicken breasts are seasoned and sautéed until golden, then combined with a mixture of onions, garlic, carrots, peppers, and spices. The stew is simmered with tomatoes, stock, and chickpeas until thickened and flavorful. Just before serving, olives, lemon juice, lemon zest, and parsley are added to enhance the taste. This chicken and chickpea stew is delicious when served on a bed of rice or couscous, making it a complete and satisfying meal.
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 skinless chicken breast fillets
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, halved and sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 carrot, sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes
- 2 pinches of saffron powder
- 1 red pepper, seeded and cut into 2.5cm/1in squares
- 1 yellow pepper, seeded and cut into 2.5cm/1in squares
- 100g/4oz fennel bulb, thinly sliced
- 50ml/2fl oz dry white wine
- 400g/14oz canned chopped plum tomatoes, drained
- 225ml/8fl oz vegetable stock
- 550g/1lb 4oz canned cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 10 large green olives, pitted and cut into slivers
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Salt and ground black pepper
PREPARATIONS:
- Cut the chicken breasts into 5cm/2in strips and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the chicken in batches for 1-2 minutes until no longer pink on the outside. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Heat the remaining olive oil in the same pan over medium heat. Sauté the onion, garlic, carrot, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground ginger, dried red chili flakes, and saffron powder for 10 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the red and yellow peppers, fennel, and white wine to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes until the liquid is nearly evaporated.
- Stir in the drained tomatoes and vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
- Add the reserved chicken and chickpeas to the pan. Continue to simmer, covered, for another 15-20 minutes until the stew has thickened.
- Just before serving, stir in the olives, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chopped parsley. Season with salt and ground black pepper.
- Serve the chicken and chickpea stew hot on a bed of rice or couscous.
YIELD:
- This recipe serves 4.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
- Adjust the level of spice by increasing or reducing the amount of dried red chili flakes.
- If desired, garnish with additional chopped fresh parsley before serving.
TIPS:
- For a richer flavor, you can use bone-in chicken pieces instead of skinless chicken breast fillets.
- Serve the stew with crusty bread for dipping into the flavorful sauce.
- This stew can be made ahead of time and tastes even better the next day as the flavors develop further.
Chicken and chickpea stew is a comforting and flavorful dish that combines tender chicken, chickpeas, and aromatic spices. This recipe serves 4 and offers a hearty and satisfying meal option. The chicken is sautéed until golden and combined with a mixture of onions, garlic, carrots, peppers, and a variety of spices. The stew is simmered with tomatoes, stock, and chickpeas until thickened and full of flavor.
The addition of olives, lemon juice, lemon zest, and parsley adds a bright and refreshing element to the stew. Serve this chicken and chickpea stew on a bed of rice or couscous for a complete and satisfying meal.
This dish can be customized to suit your taste preferences by adjusting the level of spiciness or adding additional vegetables. It can also be made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to develop further.
Indulge in the warm and comforting flavors of this chicken and chickpea stew, and enjoy a hearty and delicious meal that will leave you feeling satisfied.
