Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Chicken Stew with Sweet Potato Biscuits

Photo via Posie Gets Cozy

For the stew:  (from Ina Garten)
3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on 
3 tablespoons olive oil 
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 
5 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade 
2 chicken bouillon cubes 
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter 
2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions) 
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 
1/4 cup heavy cream 
2 cups medium-diced carrots (4 carrots), blanched for 2 minutes 
1 10-ounce package frozen peas (2 cups) 
1 1/2 cups frozen small whole onions 
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 

Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Cut the chicken into large dice. You will have 4 to 6 cups of cubed chicken. 

In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and sauté the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and the heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions, and parsley. Mix well. Place the stew in a 10 x 13 x 2-inch oval or rectangular baking dish. Place the baking dish on a sheet pan lined with parchment or wax paper. Bake for 15 minutes.

Sweet Potato Biscuits
yield: about 20 small-size biscuits
*Don't be afraid of the Cayenne!  It's what gives these biscuits the extra pow!  I always double this and freeze the extra.  They freeze well, and are perfect to pop out of the freezer and serve with a pot of soup, or just as ham sandwiches!
1 pound sweet potatoes or yam (one very large one is usually sufficient)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (chilled), cut into small pieces
1/4 cup milk
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Prick the sweet potato and bake until soft (about one hour…you can also do this more quickly in a microwave). Once the sweet potato has cooled, scoop the flesh from the skin and pass through a food mill, ricer or sieve. You should have about 1 3/4 cups puree.
Stir together the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cayenne. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter (or use your fingers) until it resembles a course meal. Mix milk with sweet potato puree and add it to the other ingredients. Mix dough, just to incorporate (I use my hands).  If the dough is really sticky, add a touch more flour.  Turn dough out onto counter and knead a few times.  Roll dough out to about 1/2" thickness.  Cut with a biscuit cutter or glass.  We make ours small, about 2 inches.  Place on parchment lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes.  Place in preheated oven and cook until risen and slightly brown (about 12 minutes).  Serve warm.

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