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Authentic Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
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4.38 from 8 votes

Authentic Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

This rich and hearty Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken is full of caramelized flavor from brown sugar, browning seasoning and veggies.
Course Main Course
Keyword chicken, dinner, easy, homemade, Jamaican, lunch, spicy, stew, tomatoes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Author Shanika | Orchids + Sweet Tea

Ingredients

  • 3-4 lbs. organic chicken, skin removed (Drumsticks + Thigh pieces work great!)
  • 2-3 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1-2 Tbsps browning (See Notes!)
  • 2-3 medium carrots, peeled + chopped
  • 3/4 cup tomato sauce (You can also use Ketchup instead)
  • 1 Tbsp organic brown sugar
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 scallions, chopped (a.k.a. green onions)
  • handful fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Flavo Rice, optional  (You can substitute with all-purpose seasoning!)
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger (You can also use 1/4 tsp ground ginger instead)
  • 1/2 tsp ground allspice
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1-3 scotch bonnet peppers, minced or whole (You can also use habanero peppers)
  • 3 cups organic chicken stock

Instructions

MARINATE THE CHICKEN:

  • In a large bowl, add your freshly cleaned + rinsed chicken along with browning, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, Flavo Rice (or all-purpose seasoning), ginger, and allspice, mixing everything together until chicken is fully coated. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.

COOK THE CHICKEN:

  • In a deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and once fully heated, add the chopped onions and garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the marinated chicken and cook on each side until seared, about 3-4 minutes each side. Once brown on each side, add in the carrots, brown sugar, tomato sauce, and chicken stock, stirring everything together until combined.
  • Let the mixture boil for a minute or so before adding in the thyme sprigs, scallions, scotch bonnet peppers, bay leaves, and reduce heat to simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through and tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat once done.
  • To serve, enjoy the brown stew chicken with your favorite side (i.e. rice, veggies, etc.). Garnish with a bit of dried parsley, if desired.
  • Bon Appétit!

Notes

  • STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
  • JAMAICAN SEASONINGS: If authentic Jamaican seasonings (i.e. browning, curry powder, Flavo Rice, etc.) aren't readily available near you, they are available for purchase on Amazon. Otherwise, substitute with your favorite brand. 
  • AUTHENTIC JAMAICAN PROCESS: Please see info in this post for more on this. I elaborate on the actual ingredients used, important steps, etc.