Curacao Chicken
- Yield 10 servings
Ingredients
- Marinade:
- 2 teaspoons allspice powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 teaspoons brown sugar
- 5 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 4 tablespoons tamarind paste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 hot chilies
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 10 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh hot chile pepper
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 (16-ounce) can tomato sauce
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Instructions
- To prepare marinade, combine all ingredients in a blender and mix well.
- Place chicken and marinade in zip-top plastic bag. Seal and rub marinade into the chicken. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip away. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy saute pan over medium-high heat and fry chicken in a single layer (working in batches) until all of the chicken pieces are golden brown. Reserve in a warm place.
- To prepare sauce, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a clean frying pan, and saute onion, bell pepper, garlic and chile pepper about 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
- Add cinnamon, allspice and brown sugar and cook 2 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce and cook 5 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Return chicken to pan, glazing the pieces with the sauce as they re-warm. Serve with rice, garnishing with chopped green onion.
Recipe adapted from Angelica’s Kitchen on the island of Curacao (angelicas-kitchen.com).
