Chiles | Saveur

Carbone’s Cherry Pepper Ribs

Mario Carbone — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 06:53:08 +0000

Photography by Anthony Mair; Courtesy of MGM Resorts International

At New York City’s Carbone—and its younger Las Vegas outpost in Aria Resort—Berkshire pork spare ribs from Heritage Foods are brushed with a sweet, garlic glaze, finished over a wood fire, then topped with a mixture of fresh and pickled chiles. “I love this dish because it’s completely non-traditional to the Italian-American menu,” says chef Mario Carbone. “It’s a curveball that we throw, but somehow, once it hits the table, it looks perfectly at home.”

Fresh cherry peppers come into season in late summer and often can be found at farmers markets and Italian grocery stores. (If you can’t track them down, though, thinly sliced green jalapeños will get the job done.) Pickled cherry peppers are available year-round in well-stocked supermarkets and online. The individual components of this recipe can be made a day or more ahead of time, and the final step is a quick and easy one, making Carbone’s cherry pepper ribs an impressive flex for outdoor entertaining. At his restaurants, the ribs are served over a bed of coleslaw, but any crunchy fresh salad would make a fine accompaniment. — Kat Craddock

Note: Slow cooking the meat in a layer of plastic wrap seals in its flavor and moisture, mimicking the effect of sous vide cooking. However, if you prefer not to cook in plastic, you may also omit this layer and bake only aluminum foil. We tested a plastic-free version and found the ribs still came out tender and juicy.

Yield: 4–6

Time: 12 hours

Ingredients

For the brined ribs:

1½ cup kosher salt
⅓ cup sugar
1 medium lemon, halved crosswise
1 whole garlic head, halved crosswise
2 Tbsp. whole black peppercorns
1¾ tsp. crushed red chile flakes
One 4-lb. pound rack spare ribs

For the spice rub:

2 Tbsp. whole fennel seed
1½ tsp. crushed red chile flake
⅓ cup light brown sugar
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. onion powder
1½ tsp. dried oregano

For the roasted garlic gaze:

1 cup olive oil, plus more
Garlic cloves from 1 large head, peeled
½ cup sugar
½ cup red wine vinegar

For serving:

½ cup fresh cherry peppers, stemmed and thinly sliced
½ cup sweet or hot pickled cherry peppers, stemmed, seeded, and quartered
Shredded cabbage or coleslaw (optional)

Instructions

To a large pot over high heat, add 2 quarts water and the salt and sugar. Bring to a boil, remove from the heat, and stir until the salt and sugar have dissolved. Add 2 quarts cool water, the lemon and garlic halves, and the black peppercorns and chile flakes, then transfer the brine to a large enough container in which to submerge the meat. Add the ribs to the brine, cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 6 and up to 24 hours.
Meanwhile, make the spice rub: In a spice grinder or small food processor, grind the fennel seeds and chile flakes to a fine powder. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in the brown sugar, garlic and onion powders, and oregano, and set aside.
Make the roasted garlic glaze: Preheat the oven to 300°F. To a small ovenproof pot or baking dish, add the olive oil and garlic, adding more oil as needed to fully submerge the cloves. Cover tightly with a lid or aluminum foil and bake until the garlic is golden and very tender when poked with a fork, about 1 hour.
Carefully remove the pot from the oven and set it aside to cool to room temperature. Transfer the garlic cloves to a cutting board and, using a chefs knife, smash and chop to a fine paste. Reserve both the garlic paste and the garlic-infused oil.
In a small pot over medium heat, stir together the sugar and red wine vinegar. Cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid has reduced in volume by half and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and stir in the roasted garlic paste. Set the glaze aside.
Cook the ribs: Turn the oven down to 275°F. Arrange a few long layers of plastic wrap over a large work surface. Transfer the ribs to the plastic wrap, discarding the brine. Sprinkle the spice rub all over the rack, turning a few times to completely coat. Wrap the plastic up and around the ribs tightly, then wrap tightly in aluminum foil.
Transfer the packet of ribs to a large rimmed baking sheet and bake until the meat is tender when poked with a knife, but not yet falling off the bone, about 2½ hours. Remove the tray from the oven and set aside without unwrapping until cool enough to handle, 15–20 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat a grill, grill pan, or broiler to cook over (or under) medium heat.
Working over the baking sheet to catch any accumulated juices, remove and discard both the foil and the plastic wrap. Pat the cooked ribs dry with paper towels and transfer to a clean, dry cutting board.
Using a sharp chefs knife, cut straight down between each bone to divide the rack into individual ribs. Brush each rib lightly with the reserved garlic-infused oil. If finishing under the broiler, arrange the ribs in a single layer on a dry baking sheet.
A few minutes before you plan to serve the ribs, grill or boil them, turning occasionally, until lightly browned all over, about 10 minutes. Brush generously with the reserved glaze and continue cooking until the glaze is sticky and lightly caramelized, 5–7 minutes more. Transfer to a platter, top with fresh and pickled chiles, and serve the cherry pepper ribs hot, with coleslaw or shredded cabbage on the side, if desired.

The post Carbone’s Cherry Pepper Ribs appeared first on Saveur.

Two Pea Stir-Fry with Greens

Kat Craddock — Thu, 23 May 2019 01:32:00 +0000

KAT CRADDOCK

Snow peas, sugar snap peas, and pea shoots are quick-cooked with a Thai-inspired oyster-fish-soy sauce dressing, along with plenty of garlic and chiles, in this bold and punchy side dish from SAVEUR editor-in-chief Kat Craddock, which she adapted from a Pok Pok recipe by Andy Ricker. Shoots harvested later in the season are tougher in texture—adjust the cook time accordingly.

Yield: 4

Time: 10 minutes

1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 garlic clove, smashed
1½ cups snow peas (4 oz.), tips and strings removed
1½ cups snap peas (4 oz.), tips and strings removed
2 bird’s-eye chiles, thinly sliced
3 oz. pea shoots (tendrils, shoots, and leaves), cut into 2-in. lengths (2 cups, loosely packed)
2 tsp. oyster sauce
1½ tsp. fish sauce
1½ tsp. soy sauce
½ tsp. sugar

Instructions

To a wok set over high heat, add the oil and swirl to coat. When smoking, add the garlic and fry until fragrant, about 10 seconds, followed by the snow peas, snap peas, and chiles. Cook, stirring continuously, until the pods are bright green and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the pea shoots and 1 tablespoon of water and cook until wilted, 30–45 seconds. Add the oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and 2 tablespoons water and cook, stirring continuously, until the peas and greens are tender and evenly coated with sauce, 1–2 minutes more.

The post Two Pea Stir-Fry with Greens appeared first on Saveur.

Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce

SAVEUR Editors — Thu, 23 May 2019 18:06:40 +0000

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BELLE MORIZIO; FOOD STYLING BY VICTORIA GRANOF; PROP STYLING BY DAYNA SEMAN

While whimsical-looking Scotch bonnet chiles have a flavorful fruitiness, they also pack a capsaicin punch that can easily overwhelm a dish. A fresh, Caribbean-style pepper sauce, tempered with sweet tropical fruit, is a great way to make the most of the fiery peppers. This hot sauce originally ran alongside Korsha Wilson’s guide to traditional Jamaican-style jerk cooking. (If you can’t find coconut vinegar, a staple in Caribbean cooking, white wine vinegar is a suitable substitute.)

Featured in: “Master Jamaican Jerk with Our Definitive Guide.”

Yield: makes about 2 cups

Time: 10 minutes

6 Scotch bonnet chiles, stemmed
2 cups chopped fresh mango
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 chopped red onion
1 Tbsp. honey
2 tsp. whole allspice berries
1 tsp. mustard powder
¼ cups plus 2 Tbsp. coconut vinegar
Kosher salt

Instructions

To a blender, add the chiles, mango, garlic, onion, honey, allspice, and mustard powder. Pulse to break down the ingredients slightly, then add the coconut vinegar and blend until lightly chunky. Season to taste with salt. Use immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 10 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

The post Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce appeared first on Saveur.

Pimento Cheese

Brandon Martinez and John Bates — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 22:45:22 +0000

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING BY JASON SCHREIBER; PROP STYLING BY ELVIS MAYNARD

Chefs John Bates and Brandon Martinez of Austin, Texas’s now shuttered Noble Sandwich Co. added Sriracha to their beloved chunky pimento cheese, upping the spice factor and helping to offset the creaminess of the rich cheddar spread. We still like to slather it on everything, from sandwiches to Romaine spears. Here are our top picks for Sriracha sauces from the classic staples to regional recipes.

Yield: makes 2 sandwiches

Time: 15 minutes

6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
¼ cups plus 2 Tbsp. garlic aioli
2 tsp. Sriracha sauce
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
3⁄4 tsp. paprika
3⁄4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 medium scallions, finely chopped
1 roasted red bell pepper, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Romaine lettuce

Instructions

To a medium bowl, add the cheddar cheese, aioli, Sriracha, cider vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire, scallions and roasted bell pepper; season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Spread on sandwiches, or transfer to a wide bowl and serve with Romaine lettuce spears for dipping.

Our 50 Best Sandwiches from Around the World

Farideh Sadeghin

From the New Orleans oyster loaf to Vietnam’s banh mi, our best sandwich recipes showcase a world of innovation between two slices of bread.

The post Pimento Cheese appeared first on Saveur.

Laabify Your Life

Pailin Chongchitnant — Mon, 01 May 2023 03:32:44 +0000

Photography by Belle Morizio

This recipe is brought to you by the SAVEUR Cookbook Club, our passionate community of food-loving readers from around the globe celebrating our favorite authors and recipes. Join us as we cook through cookbooks new and old, and share your food pics and vids on social media with the hashtags #SAVEURCookbookClub and #EatTheWorld.

Cookbook author and host of the YouTube channel Pailin’s Kitchen, Pailin Chongchitnant believes that you can laabify anything—from last night’s pork roast to slivers of this morning’s omelette to a cup or two of vegetables, saved from the crisper drawer. Tart, spicy, and fresh, Chongchitnant’s “leftover anything” laab recipe is also guaranteed to “fix” lackluster proteins like dry Thanksgiving turkey, the overcooked ends of roast beef, and under seasoned baked or fried tofu.

Laab is usually served with Thai-style sticky rice, which you can learn how to make here, or you can swap it out for steamed jasmine rice. If you’re taking it easy on carbs, you can leave the rice out entirely and instead wrap up scoops of laab in soft lettuce leaves. Roasting whole dried chiles before grinding them to flakes or powder is a popular technique in Thai cooking. Make your own or look for roasted chile flakes at your local Southeast Asian grocery store.

This recipe is adapted from Pailin Chongchitnant’s cookbook Sabai: 100 Simple Thai Recipes for Any Day of the Week.

Yield: 4

Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the laab:

1 Tbsp. uncooked jasmine or Thai sticky rice
5 oz. leftover cooked meat and/or vegetables
1 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
Pinch sugar
Roasted chile flakes (store-bought or homemade)
3 Tbsp. thinly sliced shallots
Handful fresh mint, Thai basil, cilantro, and other fresh herbs

For serving:

English cucumber, sliced
Sticky rice or jasmine rice
Romaine or butter lettuce

Instructions

To a small dry skillet over medium-high heat, add the rice and cook, stirring continuously, until the rice is evenly dark brown. (Don’t walk away from the stove; the rice may start to smoke, so make sure the kitchen is well ventilated.) Transfer the toasted rice to a plate to cool, then transfer to a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder and pulverize to a medium-fine powder with a few larger pieces for texture. Set aside.
Thinly slice, chop, or shred your leftovers into small pieces. Decide how best to process depending on the ingredient: Poultry and braised pork is best shredded; beef, pork chops and tenderloin, and egg is best thinly sliced; most vegetables are best coarsely chopped. If cold, heat the leftovers slightly so they are just barely warm or at room temperature (you can do this in the microwave or give them a quick sauté in a skillet.)
In a medium bowl, stir together the fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, chile flakes, and shallots, until the sugar is nearly dissolved. Add the leftovers, reserved toasted rice powder, and the fresh herbs and toss to coat in the dressing. Taste and adjust the seasoning to taste with more fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chile flakes. Serve the laab warm or at room temperature with sliced cucumber, rice, and lettuce leaves on the side.

The post Laabify Your Life appeared first on Saveur.

Old-School Pad Gaprao

Pailin Chongchitnant — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 22:10:11 +0000

Excerpted from Sabai by Pailin Chongchitnant. Copyright © 2023 Pailin Chongchitnant. Photographs by Janis Nicolay. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

This recipe is brought to you by SAVEUR Cookbook Club, our passionate community of food-loving readers from around the globe celebrating our favorite authors and recipes. Join us as we cook through cookbooks new and old, and share your food pics and vids on social media with the hashtags #SAVEURCookbookClub and #EatTheWorld.

Pad gaprao (often misspelled as “pad kra pao”) is a true staple of the Thai diet, sold by street vendors and at fancy restaurants, and made in homes all over the country. Cookbook author Pailin Chongchitnant calls this version adapted from her cookbook Sabai: 100 Simple Thai Recipes for Any Day of the Week—“old school” because it’s so simple, seasoned only with fish sauce and basil. Newer takes on the classic dish include add-ins like soy sauce, oyster sauce, and veggies, but Chongchitnant’s original pad gaprao recipe is easier to prepare—and preserves a little Thai culinary history in the process. If you can’t find holy basil, don’t be tempted to swap in Thai basil—Italian basil is in fact a closer substitute.

Pad gaprao is typically paired with a fried egg when served as a one-dish meal. If serving as part of a multi-dish Thai meal, you can omit the egg. For an old-school pad gaprao experience, make this dish as spicy as you can handle—it’s not just about the heat, as chiles also provide flavor that’s important to the dish. Chongchitnant uses a mixture of mild and hot chiles; the mild ones add the necessary chile flavor without overpowering the dish with spice. Red bell pepper will work, but she suggests you try to find something smaller and less watery (we like Jimmy Nardellos). The bird’s eye chile seeds can be removed to moderate the heat further.

Yield: 4

Time: 15 minutes

2–3 bird’s eye chiles
⅓ cup coarsely chopped mild red peppers
7 garlic cloves
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for frying
4 large eggs
1 lb. lean ground pork
2 Tbsp. fish sauce, plus more
2 tsp. sugar, plus more
1½ cups holy basil or Italian basil leaves
4 cups steamed jasmine rice, for serving

Instructions

Using a mortar and pestle, pound the bird’s eye chiles to a fine paste. Add the mild red peppers and garlic and continue pounding to a coarse paste, then set aside.
Line a large plate with paper towels and set it by the stove. To a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, add oil to a depth of ⅓ inch. Once the oil is hot, carefully crack in one egg and cook, using a spoon to occasionally baste the top of the egg with the hot oil, until the whites are crispy and browned and the yolks are cooked to the desired doneness, about 1 minute for a runny yolk, or 2 minutes for a set yolk. Using a heat-proof spatula, transfer the egg to the lined plate; keep warm while you repeat with the remaining eggs.
To a wok set over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons oil and the reserved chile-garlic paste. Stir-fry until the garlic is just beginning to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Turn the heat up to high, add the ground pork, and, using a heat-proof spatula, quickly toss to mix with the chile-garlic paste. Add the fish sauce and sugar, and continue stir-frying until the pork is fully cooked, about 4 minutes. Turn off the heat, then add the basil and stir just until the leaves have wilted. Season to taste with more fish sauce and sugar as needed.
Divide the rice among 4 plates. Top each serving with the pad gaprao followed by a fried egg and serve hot

The post Old-School Pad Gaprao appeared first on Saveur.

Jogaetang (Korean Green Chile Clam Soup)

Dan Holzman and Matt Rodbard — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 22:25:55 +0000

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BELLE MORIZIO; FOOD STYLING BY CHRISTINE ALBANO; PROP STYLING BY CARLA GONZALEZ-HART

The light, Korean soup called jogaetang is served up at San Francisco’s Toyose, run by husband-and-wife team Kong Kim and Jong Yu. Short on neither heat nor spice, it’s traditionally served over a butane flame, so the broth remains hot, and a heavy dose of heat is delivered from two types of thinly sliced green chiles. Jogaetang’s popularity derives from its status as a kind of Koreatown pub grub that functions as a reset of sorts, a piping elixir that blankets the belly and washes away the effects of the night past. Find dasima in well-stocked supermarkets, Asian grocery stores, or online; a type of dried kelp frequently used for adding briny richess to stocks and sauces, it is sometimes sold by its Japanese name, konbu or kombu.

Featured in: “Korean Clam Soup for the Drunk Soul.”

Yield: 2–4

Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

2 lb. littleneck clams, scrubbed clean
One 4-in. square dasima (dried kelp)
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
1 small jalapeño, stemmed and thinly sliced crosswise with seeds
1 Korean or Anaheim chile, stemmed and thinly sliced crosswise with seeds
Kosher salt
½ scallion, thinly sliced

Instructions

To a large bowl, add the clams and enough cold water to cover by an inch. Set aside at room temperature to purge for 1 hour.
Gently lift the clams from the water, leaving the grit behind; discard the soaking liquid and any grit.
To a large pot, add the dasima and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, cook for 3 minutes, then remove and discard the dasima. Add the clams, garlic, jalapeño, and chile, cover the pan, and cook until the clams open, about 4 minutes. If there are still closed clams, remove the opened clams to bowls and continue to cook the clams until they open; discard any clams that don’t open after 8 minutes total. Season the broth with salt to taste.
Divide the jogaetang among 2–4 wide bowls, garnish with scallions, and serve hot.

The post Jogaetang (Korean Green Chile Clam Soup) appeared first on Saveur.

Tom Yum Goong (Thai Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup)

Nancie McDermott — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 22:33:49 +0000

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BELLE MORIZIO; FOOD STYLING BY CHRISTINE ALBANO; PROP STYLING BY CARLA GONZALEZ-HART

Tom yum goong belongs to the family of Thai soups with the prefix “tom yum,” meaning, “boiled together,” with the suffix “goong” translating as prawns or shrimp. Fragrant with lime juice, makrut lime leaves, and lemongrass, this tom yum soup recipe is based on one from Nancie McDermott, author of Real Thai. Find nam prik pao—roasted Thai chile paste—from your local Asian grocery store or order it online from Umamicart.

Yield: 2

Time: 25 minutes

3 large fresh lemongrass stalks
4 cups chicken stock
12 fresh or frozen makrut lime leaves, divided
1 cup canned straw mushrooms, drained
2–4 Tbsp. nam prik pao (roasted Thai chile paste)
8 oz. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. fish sauce
4–6 bird’s eye chiles, stemmed and smashed with the side of a knife
3 scallions, cut into 1-in. lengths
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
Steamed rice, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Trim the tip and root ends of lemongrass stalks and remove and discard their tough outer layers. Using a meat mallet or the side of a large knife, smash the stalks to flatten them, then tie each stalk into a knot and set aside.
To a small pot, add the stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the lemongrass and half the lime leaves. Turn down the heat to medium-low, and cook until the broth is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Remove and discard lemongrass and lime leaves, and turn up the heat to high. Stir in the mushrooms and nam prik pao, to taste, bring to a boil, and cook for 1 minute. Add the shrimp and fish sauce and cook until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 45 seconds. To a serving bowl or soup tureen, add the remaining lime leaves and the chiles, scallions, and lime juice. Just before serving, pour the soup into the serving bowl and stir to combine. Serve hot, with steamed rice, if you like.

The post Tom Yum Goong (Thai Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup) appeared first on Saveur.

These Spicy Fire Crackers Are a Sleeper Hit

Ellen Fort — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 19:16:50 +0000

Photography by Belle Morizio; Food Styling Laura Sampedro

It’s always Snacky Hour somewhere, at least according to snack-obsessed SAVEUR senior editor Ellen Fort. Follow along as she discovers the best bites that fall outside the confines of breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Savory, salty, spicy, sweet, sour: everything’s fair game during Snacky Hour.

Saltines, the bland-but-ubiquitous crackers found in every grandparent’s pantry, are often relegated to sick-day snacks paired with ginger ale, or stacked alongside a bowl of tomato soup. Growing up, my great-uncle Rufus Fort considered them a perfect snack when slathered with butter and toasted. But many of my Southern brethren experience the true nature of Saltines as a blank canvas for spice, toasted until crispy and served as a salty, spicy snack at parties and potlucks. Fire crackers, so named because of a healthy dash of crushed red chile flakes, typically include a packet of powdered ranch dressing in the list of ingredients. I came up with two of my own from-scratch variations: One with a spice-laden homemade ranch powder, and another packed with Indian spices from Diaspora Co. (I recommend turmeric, ginger, and chile powder; crushed red chile flakes can be swapped for the Guntur Sannam chiles if desired.) Pro tip: An air fryer* can crisp these very quickly; head to the footnote for directions.

Yield: 6–8

Time: 12 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the spicy ranch fire crackers:

1 cup vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. dry buttermilk powder
2 tsp. crushed red chile flakes
1½ tsp. garlic powder
1½ tsp. kosher salt
1½ tsp. MSG, optional
1½ tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. dried chives
1 tsp. dried dill
1 tsp. dried parsley
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Two 4-oz. sleeves Saltines

For the turmeric-ginger fire crackers:

1 cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. ground coriander
1 Tbsp. ground ginger
1 Tbsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
½ tsp. ground black pepper
½ tsp. ground Guntur Sannam chile
Two 4-oz. sleeves Saltines

Instructions

To a gallon zip-top freezer bag, add the oil and all of the seasoning. Seal the bag and massage to mix. Add the crackers to the bag. Seal and flip the bag until all of the crackers are thoroughly coated. Set aside at room temperature to marinate for at least 6 and up to 12 hours.
Position two racks in the upper and lower third of the oven and preheat to 250°F. Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, then arrange the crackers in a single layer on them. Bake until the Saltines are lightly browned, 15–20 minutes. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Serve the fire crackers immediately or transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to two weeks.

*Air fryer instructions: Preheat the air fryer to 300°F. In the basket, arrange the crackers in a single layer. Air fry, gently shaking the basket occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. (Depending on the size of your machine, the fire crackers may need to be fried in batches to ensure they turn out evenly crispy.)

The post These Spicy Fire Crackers Are a Sleeper Hit appeared first on Saveur.

West African-Style Peanut Stew

Jessica B. Harris — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 14:10:42 +0000

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BELLE MORIZIO; FOOD STYLING BY CHRISTINE ALBANO; PROP STYLING BY CARLA GONZALEZ-HART

“Peanut stews are found across West Africa, with ancient roots in dishes made with native groundnuts before the peanut arrived from the New World in the 16th century,” writes Dr. Jessica B. Harris, historian and author of High on the Hog. “Some are thick and served over rice or millet couscous, others thin and soupy, depending on where in Africa you are.” This version, inspired by Malian maafe and Ghana’s groundnut stews, pairs chicken with a generous portion of okra, tomatoes, eggplant, and hot chiles, which lighten the stew’s intense richness. Still, it’s the indispensable peanut that gives this dish its essential earthy character.

Yield: 4–6

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

⅓ cup vegetable oil
2 lb. bone-in chicken thighs, skin discarded, patted dry with paper towels
Kosher salt
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
¼ cup finely chopped ginger
4 dried chiles de árbol
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground turmeric
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp. ground cumin
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. fenugreek seeds
3 whole cloves
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
¾ cup smooth salted peanut butter
4 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup canned diced tomatoes
1 medium eggplant (about 1 lb.), peeled and cut into 1-in. cubes
10 okra pods (about 4 oz.), cut into 1-in. lengths
Steamed white rice, for serving
1 fresh red chile, such as peri-peri or bird’s-eye, thinly sliced
Roasted salted peanuts, coarsely chopped, for garnish

Instructions

To a pot set over medium-high heat, add 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil. Season the chicken generously with salt and cook, turning once, until lightly browned on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
To the empty pot, add the onion, ginger, chiles de árbol, and the remaining oil and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the coriander, turmeric, black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, fenugreek, and cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until slightly darkened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the peanut butter, tomatoes, reserved chicken, and chicken stock and turn the heat to high. When the liquid boils, turn down the heat to medium-low and cook, partially covered, until the chicken is done but not falling off the bone, about 25 minutes. Add the eggplant and okra and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is very tender and the vegetables are soft, 25–30 minutes more. Season with salt to taste.
To serve, ladle the soup over rice, if desired, and sprinkle with the fresh chile and peanuts.

The post West African-Style Peanut Stew appeared first on Saveur.