African Sweet Potato & Chicken Stew

A close-up view of an African sweet potato and chicken stew in a bowl
Dotdash Meredith

In this African peanut and chicken stew recipe, nutrient-rich sweet potatoes and no-salt-added tomatoes keep this creamy stew healthy. To complete the bowl, the flavorful chicken stew is served over whole-wheat couscous seasoned with lime juice and chopped fresh cilantro.

Prep/Cook Time: 45 Minutes, Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon salt, divided
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 large onion, halved and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 large sweet potato (about 1 pound), peeled and cubed (½-inch)
  • 1 28-ounce can no-salt-added whole tomatoes, chopped (juice reserved)
  • ¼ cup smooth natural peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1½ cups water
  • 1 cup whole-wheat couscous
  • 1 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

  1. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon coriander and ½ teaspoon salt. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until browned on all sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  2. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, onion and ginger to the pan and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sweet potato, tomatoes and their juice, peanut butter, 1 tablespoon lime juice, cayenne (or crushed red pepper) and the remaining 1 teaspoon coriander and ¼ teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potato is tender, 14 to 16 minutes. Return the chicken and any accumulated juice to the pan and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes more.
  3. Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous and the remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice. Cover, remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork; stir in cilantro. Serve the stew over the couscous.

Nutritional Information

Per Serving: 612 Calories, Total Fat: 24 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 76 mg, Carbohydrates: 68 g, Fiber: 12 g, Total Sugars: 13 g, Added Sugars: 0 g, Protein: 35 g, Sodium: 465 mg, Potassium: 948 mg, Folate: 37 mcg, Calcium: 138 mg

© Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission.



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