Louisiana Chicken Stew
Ingredients
1/4 C. vegetable oil
2 large whole chicken breasts (about 3 lb.), boneless, skin on, cut into 8 pieces
12 chicken thighs (about 4 lb.)
1/4 C. all-purpose flour
1-1/2 C. coarsely chopped onion
2 C. coarsely chopped celery
2 medium green bell peppers, coarsely chopped
32-oz. can tomatoes, coarsely chopped, with juice
4 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 tsp. hot pepper sauce, to taste
4 C. chicken broth or stock
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 large bay leaves
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 lb. precooked, coarsely chopped andouille sausage or other spicy garlic sausage
Cooking Instructions
Heat the oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven. Working in small batches over medium-high heat, brown the chicken pieces on all sides (skin side down first). With thongs, remove each browned batch to a platter. After all the chicken is browned, make a New Orleansstyle roux; Pour the remaining oil form the Dutch oven into a measuring C.. Return 1/4 C. to the Dutch oven and heat over medium heat. Add the flour and stir, scraping flour from the bottom of the pan as it slowly browns. Stir constantly until the roux is a rich brown, the color of a paper bag. (Be careful: When a roux begins to brown, it can burn very quickly and will continue to cook, even off the heat, until liquid is added.) This will take about 20 minutes. Immediately stir in the onions, celery and peppers. Cook until wilted, for about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, lemon juice, hot pepper sauce, bay leaves, broth, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Remove the skin and visible fat from the chicken. Return to the pan. Simmer, uncovered, for about 30 minutes. Add the sausage. Skim off fat as it collects on top of the sauce. Cook for another 30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and the sauce is thick. To Serve After Freezing: Thaw as recommended. Reheat slowly in a covered pot over medium-low heat. Serve in shallow soup dishes over freshly cooked white rice.
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalms 42:3)