Dinner recipe

Comforting West African-Inspired Peanut Chicken Stew with Spinach

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A mild peanut and tomato chicken stew with sweet potato, spinach, rice, and lime for a warming family dinner.

40 min690 kcal4 base servingsDinnerOne PotFamily FriendlyRice bowls
ContainsMilk, Peanuts
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Recipe and nutrition estimates

Recipe times, servings, calories and nutrition notes are estimates for planning. They are not medical or dietary advice. Check food is cooked safely and adjust recipes for your household's needs.

Focus ingredients: chicken thigh fillets, peanut butter, sweet potato, spinach

Dietary fit: No diet tags added for this recipe yet

Serving tip: Keep chilli flakes on the table for adults, and loosen leftover stew with a splash of water before reheating.

West African-Inspired Peanut Chicken Stew plated and ready to serve.

Image: Shop Sorted generated asset

Ingredients

What you need

  • 650g chicken thigh fillets
  • 280g basmati rice
  • 500g sweet potato
  • 150g baby spinach
  • 1 onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 25g ginger
  • 1 tin chopped tomatoes
  • 5 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 chicken stock cube
  • 1 lime
  • 1 bunch fresh coriander
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp mild chilli flakes

You'll also need

wide saucepan, saucepan, sieve, knife, chopping board, grater, jug

Method

Step by step

Up to 8 clear steps
  1. West African-Inspired Peanut Chicken Stew cooking step 1: Prepare the stew ingredients.
    Step 1

    Prepare the stew ingredients

    Cut the chicken thigh fillets into bite-size pieces. Peel and cut the sweet potato into 2cm chunks. Finely chop the onion, grate the garlic and ginger, chop the coriander leaves and stalks separately, and crumble the stock cube into 450ml boiling water.

    12 min
  2. West African-Inspired Peanut Chicken Stew cooking step 2: Cook the rice.
    Step 2

    Cook the rice

    Rinse the basmati rice in a sieve until the water runs mostly clear. Put it in a saucepan with 420ml water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook over a low heat for 10 to 12 minutes until absorbed. Turn off the heat and leave covered.

    17 min
  3. West African-Inspired Peanut Chicken Stew cooking step 3: Brown the chicken.
    Step 3

    Brown the chicken

    Heat the vegetable oil in a wide saucepan or deep frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the chicken with a pinch of salt and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly golden on the outside. Lift onto a plate.

    6 min
  4. West African-Inspired Peanut Chicken Stew cooking step 4: Build the peanut base.
    Step 4

    Build the peanut base

    Lower the heat to medium. Add the onion and coriander stalks to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, ginger, cumin, ground coriander, and mild chilli flakes for 30 seconds, then add the chopped tomatoes and peanut butter. Stir until the peanut butter melts into the tomato base.

    7 min
  5. West African-Inspired Peanut Chicken Stew cooking step 5: Simmer the stew.
    Step 5

    Simmer the stew

    Add the stock a splash at a time, stirring until smooth, then add the sweet potato and browned chicken. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover loosely, and cook for 14 to 16 minutes, stirring now and again, until the chicken is cooked through and the sweet potato is tender when pierced.

    16 min

    If the stew thickens too quickly, add a splash of water so the sweet potato can finish cooking.

  6. West African-Inspired Peanut Chicken Stew cooking step 6: Finish and serve.
    Step 6

    Finish and serve

    Stir in the baby spinach for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted. Squeeze in half the lime juice, taste, and add more lime or salt if needed. Fluff the rice with a fork, divide it between four bowls, spoon over the stew, then scatter with coriander leaves and serve with lime wedges.

    3 min