Chicken Stew in Paprika Sauce: Recipe With Browning and Gelatin

The cooking site Serious Eats offers a recipe for chicken stew in paprika sauce that includes extra steps to improve flavor and texture. Browning the chicken pieces gives the sauce depth, while gelatin makes the stock thicker and richer. The dish takes a little more effort, but according to the source the result is worth it.

Ingredients

The recipe calls for 240 ml of low-sodium chicken stock, 7 g of powdered gelatin (about 2.5 teaspoons) and four chicken legs, separated into thighs and drumsticks, weighing about 900 g in total. Also needed are salt, ground black pepper, a tablespoon of vegetable oil, a large yellow onion, 28 g of sweet Hungarian paprika powder, a bay leaf, 120 ml of sour cream, half a teaspoon of Asian fish sauce and a teaspoon of lemon juice. A red bell pepper and fresh parsley or dill are optional. The dish is served with egg noodles or boiled potatoes.

Method

The stock is poured into a measuring cup, sprinkled with gelatin and left to soak. The chicken is seasoned with salt and pepper, then fried skin-side down in hot oil for about 8 minutes, turned and cooked for about 2 more minutes. The pieces are moved to a plate, leaving about a tablespoon of fat in the pan.

The onions and pepper are cooked in it for about 5 minutes, then the paprika powder is added and heated for about a minute while stirring. The stock and gelatin mixture is poured in, a bay leaf is added, and the chicken goes back in skin-side up. It simmers covered over low heat for about 30 minutes.

The chicken is then removed, and the sour cream, fish sauce, lemon juice and half of the herbs are stirred into the sauce. It is tasted and, if needed, seasoned with more salt and paprika. The meat returns to the pan and is coated with sauce. It is served immediately, garnished with sour cream, paprika powder and herbs.

Good to know

Fresh bell pepper is not a traditional ingredient of this dish, but it is a common addition, so it is listed as optional. It is important to use fresh, good-quality paprika powder.