Caribbean Chicken

Zaffy's Note:

We prefer using broths and juices for a less pungent, "candied" finish. Great served with rice & pigeon peas or other Caribbean-themed rice and sweet & sour (not creamy) slaw.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 1 ½ tablespoons oil
• 1 lb boneless chicken breast , 1-inch cubes
• ¼ teaspoon whole black peppercorn
• ¼ teaspoon allspice berry
• 1 cup onion , 3/4-inch dice
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh gingerroot , peeled & minced
• 2 habanero peppers , seeded & minced
• 1 medium sweet potato , 3/4 inch cubes
• 1 medium red pepper , 3/4-inch dice
• 6 ounces chicken broth (preferably unsalted)
• 1 orange, zest of
• 1 lime, juice of
• ¼ teaspoon ground habanero chile pepper (optional)
• 3 tablespoons dark rum
• 6 ounces fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons dried coconut , toasted (optional)
• 2 tablespoons green onions (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat skillet over medium heat. Toast peppercorns & allspice berries until aromatic, about 3 minutes. Remove and smash or grind.
2. Coat pan with oil. Add chicken and brown chicken on all sides, 2-3 minutes adding pepper and allspice. Set aside & cover.
3. Over medium-high heat, add onion,garlic, ginger root, habanero peppers, sweet potato and red pepper. Sauté until browned, about 4 minutes.
4. Pour in broth, bring to a boil over high heat. Add orange zest/peel and dark rum. Add (optional) habanero powder for additional "heat." Reduce burner to medium and cover to cook veggies until tender, about 10 minutes, stirring half way through. Meanwhile, make a slurry with cornstarch and orange juice.
5. Uncover, stir and squeeze in lime juice. Add chicken. Slowly add orange juice slurry and cook until sauce is thick, adding chicken broth to thin it out if needed. Cook another 5 minutes to finish chicken and incorporate flavors.
6. Garnish with coconut and scallions.
7. This recipe can be made using leftover chicken, ground pepper & allspice, jarred garlic & ginger for a quicker meal, although flavor won't be as distinctive.
8. Another quick meal/pantry option is to substitute 1/2 cup of orange/apricot marmalade in place of the orange juice & cornstarch slurry, lime juice and orange peel. The final flavor will be sweeter and more pungent.
9. For extra zing at the table, Trinidad mustard sauce or a sweet-chili habanero sauce are nice condiments to use.

Reviews

[Rita~]

2 habanaros would be way too too much. I`m trying to follow the RSC contest recipe as posted. But I couldn`t with the habanaro. And thank goodness I did because this was very spicy with 1 habanaro and I served it over rice. We liked it spicy don`t get me wrong! I used 2 allspice berries and 20 peppercorns if anyone is wondering what a 1/4 teaspoon of them equal. You don`t need For extra zing at the table, trinidad mustard sauce or a sweet-chili habanero sauce are nice condiments to use. Or the optional ground habanaro pepper. Thanks I will be making again with some changes. Tasty!!!!

[justcallmetoni]

The colors and flavors on this dish were truly delightful and the dish itself, after the initial chopping, came together quite quickly. Truly enjoyed the way the ingredients in the dish were enhanced by the sauce itself. I loved the allspice and oranges and rum combination and it was a perfect note for the theme of this contest. My one concern, and this is from someone who likes heat, was that the dish was almost too hot to enjoy. Moreover the pepper really undercut the other wonderful flavors. I will definitely make this agian but perhaps only use one habenero instead of two.

[Elmotoo]

Nice & easy & delicious. I used a jalapeno because I was serving my parents & young children. I added extra bell pepper to boost the veggie content & added them towards the end because I like them still crunchy. Everybody liked it but my Dad raved & raved & raved. :) Great entry!