Garlic Stewed Chicken

Dear friend,

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in the past year, it’s that chicken is dirt cheap, and garlic & onions have the power to turn a few ingredients into a work of art- and that’s exactly what this recipe is [if I do say so myself]. My not-so-secret equation for a simple sauce is garlic + onion + vegetable + meat. The rest is magic…

Prep time: 10 mins                                Cook time: 45 mins                                    Total time: 55 mins

Portions: serves 6

What you will need:

• Deep frying pan/wok
• Wooden spoon
• Chef’s knife/vegetable knife
• Garlic crusher??? Up to you mate
• Plate/bowl

Ingredients:

• 6-7 chicken thighs (1 pack from aldi is like £1.89)
• 7 garlic cloves (crushed)
• 1 onion (sliced)
• 1 pepper (chopped or sliced)
• 3 tbsp butter
• 500ml boiled water
• 1 level tsp salt (x2)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper (x2)

• 3 sprigs of thyme/1 tsp dried thyme (optional- adds a new flavour)
• 1 tbsp cornflour (optional- thickens the sauce)

What to do…

1. Prepare all ingredients
2. Add butter to wok and place on medium/high heat
3. Once butter has melted, add garlic, onion and peppers to the wok along with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper (stir occasionally for 5 mins)
4. After 5 mins, transfer the contents of the wok onto a plate/bowl
5. Add chicken thighs (skin side up) to the wok, allowing every piece to touch the bottom. Sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp of black pepper and let sit for 3 minutes
6. After 3 minutes, turn chicken over and let sit for another 3 minutes
7. Once 3 minutes is up, add the cooked onions, garlic and peppers back into the wok, along with the boiled water [and thyme], and leave for 30 mins. Reduce heat to low and feel free to place a lid on the wok/frying pan. I also like to poke my chicken to the bone with a knife just to speed up the cooking process
8. After 30 minutes, check chicken is cooked (cooking time varies dependent on size). If satisfied, mix cornflour with 2 tbsp cold water, then pour mixture into the wok and stir (this will instantly thicken the sauce). Voila

Shopping list:

• Chicken thighs, Aldi, £1.89
• Onions, Aldi, £0.79
• Garlic, Aldi, £0.85
• Pepper, Aldi, £0.45
• Fresh Thyme, Aldi, £0.65
• = £4.63

What to eat it with:

• Rice
• Pasta
• Cooked vegetables

Loré Adenegan