Chicken Puchero

Chicken Puchero – Puchero is a Spanish word which means “stewpot.” For those who are not aware, a stewpot is a large and heavy pot usually made of cast iron with a tight-fitting lid. This kind of pot is popularly known as Dutch oven. This is often used when making soups and stew. In our house, we still have our old but reliable Dutch oven which we still use to make soups and stew.

Going back to puchero, there are several variations of making this dish: chicken, pork and beef. It usually consists of chicken, pork or beef,  saba (or plantain) banana, potatoes, chorizo bilbao, pechay or bokchoy, green beans, cabbage, tomato sauce, seasoning and a whole lot more.

Chicken puchero is considered a favorite stew served during fiestas, weddings and other occasions. This is often served with fish sauce or chilies. Hope you try it.

Chicken Puchero Recipe

Ingredients:

• 500 gms chicken, cut into serving pieces
• 4 pcs saba banana, sliced diagonally
• 2 pcs potato, quartered
• 2 bunches of bokchoy
• 1/4 cabbage, sliced
• 1 small can green peas
• 1 250 gm tomato sauce
• 2 – 2 1/2 cups water
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tomato, quartered
• 1/2 tsp peppercorns
• cooking oil
• sugar (optional)

Cooking Procedures:

1. In a Dutch oven or ordinary pot, heat oil and saute garlic, onion and tomatoes.
2. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned. Stir in fish sauce, tomato sauce and water. Simmer for about 30 minutes.
3. Once the chicken is cooked, add the potatoes, saba banana, green beans and
4. green peas. Simmer for a few minutes.
5. Add cabbage and bokchoy. Cook until tender.
6. Season with fish sauce and salt.
7. Serve.