How to make ESTOFADO or peruvian chicken stew

Estofado (or chicken stew) is a very common dish in Peru. Is sooo easy, my mom used to say: "is time to clean the refrigerator!" which meant ESTOFADO, because you can put whatever you have in there!... extra carrot? sure just put it in the pot, peas?, tomatoes?, the last potato??? just drop it in there... I moved here to US 8 years ago... everytime I make this dish my family loves it and my friends ask for the recipe... I hope you make it and like it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chicken, breast, legs, whichever parts you like.
• Oil
• salt and pepper
• bread crumbs
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• wine or vinegar (tastes better with wine)
• chopped garlic
• chopped onions
• chopped carrots
• peeled potatoes
• 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes
• parsley
• peas
• water
• celery (optional)
• peruvian yellow pepper (optional) (adds a bit of heat)
• oregano

1. 

   Chop your chicken breast. Add salt and pepper. Mix them with bread crumbs. Get your pot ready with some oil in medium high heat. When oil is hot add your chicken. Cook chicken until golden brown. Set aside.

2. In the same pan, add onions, garlic, tomatoes plus cumin, paprika, a bit of salt and pepper. Wait until the onions are traslucid. After that bring back the chicken... let it cook for a minute or 2...

3. 

   Add your peas and carrots (you can use frozen ones or fresh ones)

4. 

   Add your peeled potatoes a bit of oregano

5. 

   Add the vinegar or wine plus a cup and a half of water. Set the heat in low... you can leave that pot cooking in there for 20 minutes? even more! just make sure the potatoes are cooked (the longer the better)... check if the seasoning is right, if not add a bit of salt.

6. 

   Serve with white rice and chopped parsley on top... my husband likes rolls with butter too. Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• You can add whatever you want to it... I tried chopped bacon... celery, corn... if you don't have tomatoes, that's OK... don't stress out about it... there is so much flavor on it that it will just taste a bit different but won't be bad... just a different stew :)
• This dish takes 5-10 minutes of preparation time... and you can do other things for 20-30-40 minutes (depending on the temperature that you leave it on)... is fun, yummy and easy

[vlmccauley]

on 11/26/2008 Oh my, this sounds so good! Thanks for sharing. I am going to have to give this a try when (and if) we ever get through the Thanksgiving leftovers!

[Giselt]

on 11/18/2008 Thank you, If you can find the peruvian peppers makes it taste just better... such a big difference... when I go back home I get a bunch!! of jars of it... :) glad you liked it.

[ReuseItAll]

on 11/18/2008 This dish is my kinda cookin'!!!! My brother in law is peruvian and his mother is teaching my sister some terrific recipes! I can't wait to go there and visit each time and have delicious peruvian cooking! Excellent article! Going in my favorites to try and make myself!!!