Just-Like-Mom's Chicken Stew

Time :1 hour 15 minutes
Yield :4 servings

Recipe Background

A comforting chicken stew with tender vegetables and creamy broth, just like mom used to make.
Nothing can truly replicate Mom's cooking; she had a kind of magic that infused every bite of her food. But Just-Like-Mom's Chicken Stew comes pretty close! It has a charm all on its own with its tender vegetables, savory and succulent chicken, and creamy broth, which can warm you up even after the coldest days. Just-Like-Mom's Chicken Stew is a magic spell in food form, casting you back to childhood and making everything alright. Isn't that the true power of home cooking?

Ingredients

  • 1 (4-pound) chicken with legs thighs, and breasts cut into 8 separate pieces, backbone and wings discarded
  • kosher salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • vegetable oil to taste
  • 2 stalks celery finely chopped
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 2 medium parsnips peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium rutabaga peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium turnip peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon fresh curly parsley chopped, plus more, whole leaves, to taste, for garnish
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Directions

  • Season the chicken pieces with the salt and the pepper.
  • Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  • Brown the chicken, working in batches, until lightly golden on all sides, about 3-5 minutes per batch.
  • Transfer the chicken to a plate.
  • Add the celery and the onion and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture and cook until the raw flour smell dissipates.
  • Add the stock to the onion mixture and season with the salt and the pepper.
  • Add the parsnips, the carrots, the rutabaga, and the turnips.
  • Add the chicken back to the mixture and bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to a simmer.
  • Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through at 165 degrees F, about 45 minutes.
  • Stir the heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of the parsley into the chicken mixture.
  • Taste the stew for seasoning and add more of the salt and the pepper, as needed.
  • Serve garnished with the extra parsley leaves.
×