Harissa Chicken Stew

By / Photography By | January 16, 2020

Ingredients

  • 1 whole pasture-raised chicken, quartered (optional: remove the skin)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • Harissa paste (see below)
  • 1 large red onion, diced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2-3 slices fresh ginger
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 large turnip, diced
  • 1 quart organic chicken stock
  • 2 cups diced sweet potatoes (about 1 large)
  • 1 (15-oz) can garbanzos, drained and rinsed
  • Salt and pepper
  • Garnish: seasonal radish, avocado, spring onions, fresh mint, fresh cilantro
Homemade harissa paste
  • 10 guajillo or other mild dried red chilis*
  • 5 dried arbol chilis (for heat) or other hot dried chilis*
  • 1 ancho chili (for smokiness)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ tablespoon sumac
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • salt

Preparation

Season the chicken. Brush with 1-2 tablespoons harissa. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven and brown the chicken quarters on medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes per side. Take out and add the onion. Saute over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes. Add celery, garlic, ginger, turnip, sweet potato and chicken. Add enough chicken stock to come up (but not entirely cover) to the top of the chicken. Add another 2-3 tablespoons harissa paste. Bring to a boil, lower heat and close lid. Simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in the garbanzos, cook for another 5-10 minutes. Season the dish, add more harissa to taste.

To garnish, top with sliced radish, diced avocado, chopped spring onions, fresh mint and cilantro.

Note: you can take out the chicken quarters, pull all the meat off the bones, and add back in the stew for easier serving.

Homemade harissa paste

Soak the chilies and remove seeds and stems. Add to a blender and add all other ingredients. Pulse until mixture forms a paste. Add a little water to get the blender going, more as needed: The paste should have the consistency of peanut butter. Season to taste.

*NOTE: Pick your heat: mix hot and mild peppers based on how you like a kick.

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Ingredients

  • 1 whole pasture-raised chicken, quartered (optional: remove the skin)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • Harissa paste (see below)
  • 1 large red onion, diced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2-3 slices fresh ginger
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 large turnip, diced
  • 1 quart organic chicken stock
  • 2 cups diced sweet potatoes (about 1 large)
  • 1 (15-oz) can garbanzos, drained and rinsed
  • Salt and pepper
  • Garnish: seasonal radish, avocado, spring onions, fresh mint, fresh cilantro
Homemade harissa paste
  • 10 guajillo or other mild dried red chilis*
  • 5 dried arbol chilis (for heat) or other hot dried chilis*
  • 1 ancho chili (for smokiness)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ tablespoon sumac
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • salt