OK...a bit more complicated than some of my recipes but worth it IMHO. You have to like Caribbean food.
INGREDIENTS
MARINADE:
2 tablespoons browning sauce, such as Grace Brown sauce (Amazon sells it)
2 tablespoons light or dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon chile powder (Ancho or Guajillo or mix of both)
1 teaspoon allspice powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
CHICKEN:
4 whole bone-in, skinless chicken legs or 2 breasts or mixed (3 pounds)
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 whole scallions, halved crosswise
4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 medium onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 tomatoes, washed and quartered
6 medium carrots, sliced 1/2-inch thick on a bias
1 quart chicken stock, plus more as needed
3 dried bay leaves
NOTE: All of the ingredients in the recipe are based on 3 pounds of chicken. Scale all ingredients accordingly if you increase the weight of the chicken.
METHOD
- Make the marinade: Add all marinade ingredients to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Prepare the chicken: Season the chicken with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Place chicken, scallions, and thyme in the bowl with the marinade and mix to combine. Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours. Remove chicken from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before starting to cook.
- Heat a shallow Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add sliced onions, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic to pan, cook for 30 seconds, stirring to keep the garlic from scorching. Using a pair of tongs or spoon, remove onions and garlic from the pan. Place in a medium bowl and set aside.
- If needed, add more oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Add chicken to the pan, letting the excess marinade drip back into the bowl, and reserving the scallions and thyme sprigs. This can also be done on a propane grill to avoid the mess.
- Working in batches, sear chicken on both sides until dark brown, adjusting the heat if necessary to avoid burning the marinade, about 3 to 4 minutes total. Discard the excess marinade.
- Return onions and garlic to pan. Add tomato paste and stir. Place quartered tomatoes and sliced carrots in the pan. Slowly pour in chicken stock to nearly cover. (Add more as needed.) Using your spatula, scrape off the bits from the bottom of the pan. Add bay leaves and the reserved thyme and scallions from the marinade.
- Bring to a rolling simmer. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove thyme stems and bay leaf, and discard. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve with plain white rice or bread.