Looking for a quick chicken dish for a special occasion or dinner idea? Well, stick a pin on this recipe blog because this Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken: Savor the Flavor of Jamaica will be a hit with your family and friends at your next Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, or birthday get-together.
With each tender bite, this stewed chicken will not only satisfy everyone’s appetite but each step will bring you closer to mastering the art of Jamaican cooking.
Take several sips of my natural tropical Guava Kiwi Coconut Rum Punch or Sorrel Drink and they will have you dancing the Jamaican “Dirt Bounce.” or the bachata.
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Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken Recipe: Savor The Flavor Of Jamaica.
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Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken Recipe.
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How To Make An Easy Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken?
Equipment
- Cast Iron Dutch Pot
- Cutting Board
- Spoon
- Knife
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cup and Spoon
Ingredients
Brown Stewed Chicken Seasoning
- 2.5 lbs. Chicken Things and Legs
- 2 tbsp. Pimento Seeds
- 2½ tbsp. Roasted Garlic Powder
- 2 tbsp. Complete Seasoning
- 1½ tsp. Grounded Black Pepper
- 2 tsp. Salt
- ⅓ cup Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil
- 1½ tbsp. Brown Sugar
Other Brown Stewed Chicken Ingredients
- 1 large Onion, diced
- 6 stalks Scallion, sliced
- 1 medium Green Scotch Bonnet Pepper, diced
- 3 small Carrots, sliced (optional)
- 4 whole Campari Tomatoes
- 1 medium Green Bell Pepper, cubed
- 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 1½ cup Red Bell Pepper, cubed
- 1 thumb-size Fresh Ginger, finely diced
- ¼ cup Tomato Ketchup (optional)
- 2 cups Hot Water
Instructions
- This recipe calls for chicken thighs and Legs. However, you may use any part of the chicken you desire. In my opinion, using the legs, thighs, center breast, or any other bone-in section, improves the flavor of the stew.
- Remove the skin and trim the fat off the chicken thighs. This is optional, however, I prefer to remove them because it results in a less oily stew. I opted to leave the skin on the chicken legs, but you may remove them if you desire.
- Cut each thigh and leg into two fairly equal portions. In a mixing bowl, cover chicken pieces with cold tap water. Add the juice of one lime and allow it to soak for about 10 minutes. Acid is said to cut some of the rawness from the chicken. Vinegar or lemon juice may be substituted for lime juice.
- Drain the lime water from the chicken pieces. Season with complete seasoning, garlic powder, pimento seeds, salt, and ground black pepper.
- On a cutting board, use a knife to dice the bell peppers, tomatoes, ginger, and onion. Cut the scallion and scotch bonnet pepper into small pieces. Pull apart fresh thyme into smaller sprigs.
- Combine the sliced seasonings with the chicken pieces and stir well. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours in a covered container. I prefer to marinate them overnight or for up to two days.
Let's Brown Stew The Chicken
- Separate the chicken pieces from the other marinade ingredients (onion, thyme, scallions, bell peppers, pimento seeds, ginger).
- Heat oil In a cast iron dutch pot for 1 minute over medium heat. Add the brown sugar to heated oil and allow it to cook until it reaches a dark caramel color. Mix well together with a spoon. Do not let it become black as this will lead to a bitter stew.
- Sear or brown each piece of chicken in the hot oil and sugar mixture for 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat.
- In Jamaica, stewing meats was traditionally done by "burning sugar" in hot oil. The sugar and oil give the chicken a lovely brown color and a unique flavor. Some Jamaicans use "browning sauce" to season their chicken, resulting in a darker brown stew chicken. I have tried both methods, but prefer the burn-the-sugar method.
- Mix the chicken in the caramelized oil mixture completely with a spoon. Allow the chicken to simmer for another 3 minutes on medium heat. You will notice the chicken's natural juices being released.
- Add the remaining marinated chicken components to the same saucepan. Continue cooking in their juices for another 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat.
- Cut carrots into ¼ to ½ thick slices and set aside. The carrots' sugar and starch content add more flavor and body to the stew. Sometimes pieces of Irish potatoes are added to the stew chicken.
- Pour in 16 oz. boiling water and mix well. Although this is optional, you can add a few squirts of tomato ketchup for extra flavor. ¼ cup was added to the brown stewed chicken in this recipe.Cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring periodically, after adding the sliced carrots. Traditionally, carrots are not an ingredient in Jamaican stewed chicken, but they are delicious in this dish.
- Remove from the heat and serve with a bowl of rice. It pairs well with my Jamaican Rice and Peas, but white rice would suffice. I also love stewed chicken and dumplings, as well as yams, green bananas, Irish potatoes, mashed potatoes, and cassava. This Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken serves 4 to 6 people.
Video
DELICIOUS JAMAICAN BROWN STEW CHICKEN
JAMAICAN STEW CHICKEN DINNER IDEA
Wow!!! What a yummy-licious recipe. This brown chicken stew looks tasty. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Fadima.
Trust and believe I’ll be making this dish. Looks so yummy.
Roshunda, I promise you, you are going to love my Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken. Let me know how it turns out.
Looks delicious. I like trying new dishes.
Thank you, Simplicity.
Your dishes always look amazing! And the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Keep up the great work!
I appreciate the comment and star rating, Tom.
I cannot wait to try this- looks delicious! love all those ingredients!
You are going to love it, Carol.
Looks delicious!
Thank you, Amy.
looks delicious man! I would love to try this sometime haha
Appreciate the comment Ramon. Thanks for dropping by.
The Stewed Chicken was definitely tasty, Ramon. Hope you get to make someday.
Very thorough directions – looks delicious and easy to prepare!
Thank you, Catherine. It’s hard to mess up Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken.
Thank you, Catherine. This stewed chicken easier to prepare that it looks.
That dish truly looks delicious. I like how detailed you described this recipe.
I appreciate the comment and star rating, Nelly.
wow! This looks absolutely delicious!! I am always looking for chicken dishes with flavor to eat with rice that’s my favorite as it starts to get colder :D . Will have to try this thanks so much for sharing! :D great post
Thank you, Andrea. You are going to love my Jamaican Stewed chicken; It pairs perfectly with rice.
Mmm…all yummy ingredients. Looks delicious!
Thank you, Spicy Rocking Chair.
Thanks for sharing, im terrible in the kitchen but will sure try this out as you included ingredients and how long to cook and all that good stuff.
Thanks again
Roselne, my Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken is easier that you think. Hope you get make it someday.
I’m a bit of an average cooker when it comes to meals, but the way you describe this recipe makes it so easy to make. Thanks for sharing, it looks delicious!
Appreciate the kind words, Anthuwin.
This recipe is an absolute flavor bomb. The fresh made seasoning is EVERYTHING!
Thank you Vaishali
I will be saving this to try later. Reminds me of my childhood. Thank you!
Thank you, Kendra.
All I need now are two boiled dumplings, a slice of yam, a boiled plantain and maybe some Irish potatoes and I’m good. Great recipe!
Sounds good to me Kimberly. Thank you for your comment.
Always looking for tasty one pot dishes and this one is also low carb! Perfect.
Thanks for dropping by Yara. Hope you get to make it someday.
This looks delicious! Passing it on to my husband….he’s the cook in our house
Thanks for stopping by, Sarah. You and the family will enjoy my Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken. Enjoy when your husband make it.
Anything with caramel in is good.
Agree, Jamie. lol.
Wow such a mouth watering recipe. I absolutely love most dishes made with chicken and this looks super yummy.
Thank you Hari. Appreciate you dropping by.
That plate, a welcoming sight for sore eyes and very much rewarding to the taste buds and tummy.
LOL. I totally agree, GWT. Hope you get to make my Jamaican stewed chicken someday.
Looks delicious!
Thank you Kirsten.
This looks (and sounds) like it would be perfect for colder evenings; something to enjoy to warm yourself up! I like the combination of spices, they sound like they would add such a great taste to the chicken!
The herbs and spices are popular in Jamaican cuisine. Adds loads of flavor to any dish.
I just can tell how flavorful this is based on its ingredients. I like that it has ginger and thyme, two of my favorite aromatics/herbs. Will definitely be adding this to my list. Thank you for sharing!
Rosie, these are very popular herbs/spices in Jamaican cooking, especially stewed meats.
Mhmm this looks great!!
Thank you, Kali
This looks to good, I really like how you added in peppers. I love peppers.
Thank you, Headphonesthoughts. Glad you like my Jamaican Brown Stewed chicken. Hope you get to make it soon.