Chicken Pepper Pot

Ingredients

For chicken marinade

• 1/2 cup oil

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 2 tbsp grated ginger

• salt to taste 

• pepper to taste

• zest and juice of 2 oranges

• 2 sprigs thyme

• 2 whole chickens

For chicken stock

• 5 carrots, roughly chopped

• 5 yellow onions, peeled and roughly chopped

• 5 celery stalks, roughly chopped

• 1 bunch thyme, whole

• 1 bunch green onions, cut in half

• 8 cups water

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

For Pepper Pot

• 3 yellow onions, small dices

• 4 garlic cloves, sliced

• 1” pc ginger, peeled and minced

• 5 wiri wiri peppers, whole

• 3 cinnamon sticks, whole

• 3 cloves, whole

• peel and juice of 1 orange

• 3 sprigs thyme

• 1 cup serrano peppers 

• 8 cups chicken stock

• 1 tbsp cassareep (cassava juice)

• 2 sprigs scallions, sliced

Method

For chicken marinade

Break down chickens into

• 4 boneless, skin-on chicken breasts

• 4 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on

• 4 chicken drumsticks, bone in, skin on

In a bowl, combine all ingredients and let chicken marinate for at least 2 hours. Reserve the chicken bones to make chicken stock.

For chicken stock

In a large pot, add oil and brown chicken carcasses remaining from the marinade.

In the same pot, add vegetables and thyme.

When vegetables have softened and begin to brown, add water to cover and bring to a boil.

Let it boil and reduce to a simmer for at least 2 hours. The liquid should yield a golden/yellowish colour.

Strain stock and discard the chicken bones and vegetables.

Reserve liquid.

For Pepper Pot

In a large pot, sear all the chicken until golden brown and reserve, leaving fat in the pan.

Add onions, garlic, ginger, peppers, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, orange juice and thyme. Sauté in the chicken fat until fragrant and slightly browned.

Add chicken back to the pan. Continue to cook and add cassareep.

Add chicken stock to cover and let Pepper Pot continue to cook for at least 5 hours. Taste and season accordingly with salt and pepper.

Cook chicken until tender and easy to pull from the bone.

Plate Pepper Pot with sliced scallions.