Ingredients

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 slice thick-cut bacon, diced
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 small bunch collard greens, roughly chopped
1 cup chicken stock, homemade or store-bought
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Millet or rice, for serving

Directions

1. Heat canola oil in a large pot over medium heat; add the bacon and cook until the fat has mostly rendered and it begins to crisp, about 4 minutes.
2. Add the grape tomatoes and collard greens to the pan and sauté until leaves turn bright green and begin to show signs of wilting, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the chicken stock and reduce heat to medium low; cover and let simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until leaves are completely wilted and have turned dark green in color. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve atop a bed of millet or rice.

Serves 2.

print recipe

Ingredients

1 whole chicken (about 3-1/2 pounds), with skin, cut into 8 pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons dendê oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 scallions, white and green parts, sliced on the diagonal
1/2 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 cup white wine
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 small piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
3 cups chicken stock
1-1/2 cups coconut milk
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 bay leaves
1 pound ripe plantains (look for yellow and black speckled skin)
3 plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and sliced
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

1. Place the chicken pieces in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and 2 tablespoons of the dendê oil. Rub the chicken all over with the oil, making sure it is well distributed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes.
2. Pour the remaining dendê oil into a large Dutch oven and swirl around so the entire bottom is covered. Add the chicken pieces, skin side down, and brown them lightly, over medium heat, for 3 minutes per side, working in batches if necessary.
3. Using a pair of tongs, transfer the chicken pieces to a clean bowl and cover with aluminum foil, making sure no steam can escape.
4. Add the onion, scallions, and bell pepper to the pan and cook them in the leftover dendê oil, stirring often, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the white wine and reduce by half, while using a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits that stayed in the pan. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for another minute. Add the chicken stock, coconut milk, tomato paste, and bay leaves and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Add the chicken and any remaining juices that accumulated in the bowl. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Simmer, covered, until the chicken starts to get tender, about 1 hour.
6. Meanwhile, trim the ends off the plantains and cut 3 to 4 vertical slits in the skin, making sure not to cut deep into the fruit. Peel and cut the plantains into 1-inch chunks.
7. Add the plantains to the moqueca after it has been simmering for an hour. Cover and continue to simmer until the plantains become soft but not mushy, 10 to 15 minutes. If the liquid seems too runny, uncover the pan and continue to simmer, allowing the steam to evaporate and thicken the stew. Taste, and season again with salt and pepper if necessary.
8. Just a few minutes before serving, add the tomatoes. Garnish with the fresh cilantro and serve over white rice or farofa.

Serves 4 to 6.

print recipe