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Brunswick stew

Serve Brunswick stew with some bread. This hearty chicken stew is a complete meal and there is no need of any other side dish.

Ingredients

4 lb chicken (pieces)
1 lb bacon (optional, on the bone)
1 bouquet garni (optional)
1 onion (Vidalia onion, chopped)
3 celery (chopped)
4 tomato (skinned, seeded, and cut into chunks)
2 c broad beans (shelled)
1 c corn (sweet corn)
2 potato (medium sized)
  seasoning (salt and pepper to taste)

Instructions

Place chicken and bacon, if using, in a casserole or large pan and cover with water. Add sugar and bouquet garni if using. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 45-60 minutesr or until chicken is almost tender. Remove chicken from the pan and reserve.

Bring liquid back to the boil, if necessary, add then chopped onion, sliced celery, chopped tomatoes, shelled broad beans, and diced potatoes. Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until beans are tender, stirring frequently.

Add sweetcorn and cook for 10 minutes more.

Return chicken to the pan and simmer for about 15 minutes, until thoroughly tender and warmed.

If using, remove bacon from the pan. Discard bone, skin and fat and shred meat. Return shredded meat to the pan.

Check seasoning and serve warm.

Total time
1 hour, 50 minutes
Cooking time
90
Preparation time
20
Yield
6 servings

Notes

Add a little water if the stew seems too thick.

As Brunswick stew takes long to prepare, cook double and keep some for another meal. The finished dish is suitable for home freezing if potatoes are omitted and the chicken pieces are returned to the liquid, and  the dish allowed to cool and frozen then. The stew can be defrosted and finished off by adding the potatoes, boiled and even mashed, on the next occasion. There will be no noticeable difference.

Source

Add other seasonings to taste: Worcestershire sauce, chili, etc.

Add other vegetables as you wish. Okra goes well in a Brunswick stew.

American cuisine in the southern regions 

poultry, vegetables, stew
one pot dish, easy
Virginia food recipes
Food in U.S.A.