Chicken and Chickpea Stew

Chicken stew with chickpeas


Ingredients 
  • 2 tbsp 100ml extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 chicken thigh fillets cut into bite-size chunks (or 2-3 breast fillets)
  • 6 large button mushrooms, quartered
  • 1 brown onion, diced
  • 2-4 garlic cloves, peeled, squashed and chopped
  • 3 celery stalks, cut into 5mm slices
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • freshly ground black pepper and salt flakes
  • 1 x 400g can peeled tomatoes, roughly cut into large chunks
  • 1 x 400g can diced tomatoes
  • 1 x 400g can chickpeas, drained
  • 2 handfuls snow peas, broccolini or string beans
  • 2 handfuls flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped (optional)
  • Chili flakes (optional)

Method
    1. Heat 1 tablespoons of oil in a large, heavy-based pot (that has a  lid) over medium heat and cook the chicken for a few minutes to brown (you may need to do this in batches). Remove and set aside.
    2. Add the remaining oil to the pan and cook the onion, garlic, celery and mushrooms for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the oregano, season with pepper and lightly with salt, and cook for 3 minutes, stirring to scrape the bottom of the pan. 
    3. Add the chicken and stir through, then add the paprika, cumin, chickpeas, mushrooms, 2/3 of the parsley, season with salt, pepper and chili to taste and stir through. 
    4. Bring to a simmer to reduce the liquid from the tomatoes for about 15 minutes then add the snow peas or broccolini and cook for another 10 minutes - cover with the lid if it starts to dry out.
    5. Serve and scatter remaining fresh parsley leaves over the top.
    Optional
      1. scatter grated cheese over the top 
      2. Add a fried egg to each plate.
            Serves 4