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Chicken afritada
Chicken braised in tomato sauce
Bone-in chicken braised in tomato sauce with potatoes, carrots and bell peppers, all in one pot
Afritada is one of the tomato stews of Luzon that are cooked in huge pots for town fiestas, and the gentlest of the family: chicken pieces simmered in a mild tomato sauce with potatoes, carrots and sweet peppers, with no liver or chilli. Its name points back to the Spanish word for frying, since the chicken is browned first. It is the stew children reach for at the fiesta table, red-orange, savoury and a little sweet, with tender chicken falling from the bone. Serve with steamed rice and a spoonful of atchara. Chef's tip: brown the chicken skin side down without moving it until it lifts easily from the pan; that colour flavours the whole sauce.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 5
Ingredients
- 2 ⅝ lb chicken thighs and drumsticksbone in
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 5 cloves garlicchopped
- 2 tomatoeschopped
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 ¾ cups tomato passata
- 1 cup water
- 3 potatoespeeled, quartered
- 2 carrotsin chunks
- 1 red bell pepperin strips
- 1 green bell pepperin strips
- 2 ⅞ oz green peas (optional)
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Pat the 2 ⅝ lb chicken thighs and drumsticks dry and season with the ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Heat the 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large, deep pan over a medium-high heat and brown the chicken skin side down until golden, about 6 minutes, then turn and brown 2 minutes more. Set aside.
10 minStep 3: Add the 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 ¾ cups tomato passata, 1 cup water and 2 bay leaves, return the chicken and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer over a low heat for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 5: Add the 1 red bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper and 2 ⅞ oz green peas and simmer uncovered for 4–5 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly. Common mistake: adding the peppers with the potatoes; they turn grey and slimy instead of staying bright and just soft.
5 minStep 6: Taste, adjust the seasoning and serve hot with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 36 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 24 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does chicken afritada take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 5 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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