African chicken
The dishes drive me crazy. Yes, everyone has them, but we have more. There are only two of us, but my compulsive need to cook means that we could win some kind of competition for dishes washed and draining on the sink, if there was one. Our house is not much chop I am afraid, and the kitchen is small and old with a sink that is built for a 5 foot tall grandmother, which I believe, is who lived here before us.
Each night before I begin cooking and baking, the dishes have to be dealt with. You might be thinking, if she cooks constantly, then she should do the dishes…that’s what you were thinking right? So no, that’s silly, I have a teenager, a boy, and he needs responsibility and life skills. PlayStation alone should not sustain him. Before dinner he is sent to collect the dishes that seem to have sprouted in a semi-circle around the electronics he worships, and he comes to the kitchen to practice his human skills. To be honest, I like it. We talk while he works. Apparently it takes an average of 60 minutes to wash a 12 place setting of dishes and only 9 minutes to load it into a dishwasher, but when the PlayStation is in a holding pattern it is quite surprising how quickly a player can wash or dry a sinkful of dishes.
One Pot African Chicken
Last year we considered buying a dishwasher. Then we found out that we would have to drill a hole in the brickwork of this little rented house to install it due to the antiquated way the plumbing is set up. I talked myself into believing some of the myths about operating a dishwasher – things like thinking they used more water, so I wouldn’t feel cheated, but apparently I am wrong. I began reading this website, in a nutshell this is what I found out.
- Modern dishwashers are capable of recycling and filtering water
- They have internal heaters so they don’t drain your hot water system
- They have shorter cycles now and save energy
- Dishwashers kill germs.
- Washing products such as “finish” are quite sophisticated also helping with rinsing
I thought we were alone, being dishwasherless, but apparently around 53% of Australian homes don’t have one. Do you have one? Do you do what I do to avoid germs and bacteria? Once a month I do an extra clean, where I boil a whole lot of water and tip it into jugs and put all the cutlery in there with a ¼ cup of mentholated spirits. Then I wash out the cutlery draws, drying each piece of cutlery back into the draws. **Mental note, next month get my son to help me.
I guess that a dishwasher is like a clothes washing machine. You do have to maintain it if you want it to be your slave (oh I want a slave). The filters have to be cleaned. It has to be checked for mold and scale and you have to avoid people that are pedantic about the way they load a dishwasher …eeek !
In the spirit of dishwashing I am going to present this one pot chicken dish. It is based on an African Chicken Recipe. It’s simple and you can put the frypan in the dishwasher when you have finished, if you have one……..
African chicken with spinach and sweet potato
Ingredients | Unit: |
- 6 Chicken cutlets bone in skin on
- 150 gm onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 500 gm Sweet Potato washed cut into 5 cm chunks unpeeled (approx 1)
- 2 Tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds optional
- 325 ml water or stock
- 125 ml warm water - or stock 1 /2 cup
- 60 gm crunchy peanut butter 3 tablespoons
- 40 gm frozen spinach
- 60 gm Tamarind paste, or lemon juice if you can't find tamarind
- 25 gm fried shallots for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the fryan then add a tablespoon of oil. Sear the chicken skin side down till browned and golden. Turn and seal the other side till coloured. Remove from the pan and put on a plate
- Wipe out the excess fat and add some olive oil, saute onions till softening and add the spices. You may need to add a little extra oil. When the spices are fragrant and onion is softened add the garlic and saute without colouring then add the sweet potato. Return the chicken to the pan skin side up.
- Add the 1 1/2 cups of water and simmer on low with the lid on for about 15 minutes or until the chicken is done (test by piecing one with a small knife through the thickest part near the bone).
- Mix the tamarind and peanut butter with the extra 1/2 cup of water and add to the pan. Stir well and bring back to the boil. Add the spinach. Put on the lid for 2 minutes until the spinach is defrosted. Break up and stir through. Taste for seasoning adding salt if necessary and more tamarind or lemon if you like
This post is sponsored by: www.dishwashingexpert.com.au
Other One pot Chicken Recipes
I think I’d go insane without a dishwasher and they certainly are a more efficient and economical washer than me 😐
Love the chicken dish. Can’t wait for the cooler nights to set in here in Perth to get my one pot meals happening. Must remember this recipe!
Monica @ Gastromony recently posted..Buckwheat & Quinoa Crepes
Your story made me smile Tanya, especially that semi-circle of dishes (story of my life, and it’s me that does it!)! It is funny though, when you do have a dishwasher stacking and unstacking becomes just as cumbersome as doing the dishes by hand (sometimes – but not often because dishwashing is CPoo’s job – I do the dishes by hand just to change it up). Love a one pot dinner, this one is getting bookmarked!
Jas@AbsolutelyJas recently posted..Parlour Wine Room, Redux
African chicken sounds lovely! The inclusion of tamarind is always a winner in my books!
Helen | Grab Your Fork recently posted..Shenkin Kitchen, Enmore
We have one. After living in an apartment and baking cakes for a living and being without one, I promised myself that we definitely would have one if we could choose. It helps when it’s a small kitchen as you can just put things away without being overwhelmed. I must say that I’m very happy with ours so if you ever need a recommendation let me know 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Raw Vegan Chocolate Energy Balls
I too enjoy one-pot dishes! Your African chicken looks beautifully prepared and full of flavours.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Pistachio Spelt Sablés with Rosa Pepper Berries
That’s an amazing statistic. I would never have thought so few people have a dishwasher, but I like your routine with your son.
Suzanne Perazzini recently posted..Low FODMAP and Gluten-Free Recipe – Blueberry and Almond Tart – suitable for IBS
Just watch what you say about a 5′ tall grandmother, girly. I’m on to you.
When you were talking about dishes I thought you were referring to me for a minute. My mother used to say I couldn’t cook without using every single pot or dish in the kitchen. I haven’t changed much. When we built our last house I had two dishwashers installed, one on either side of the sinks. If I had money, I’d do it again. One for dishes and one for pots, job done.
Now about this African chicken – it looks and sounds fantastic. One pot would make me very happy.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..3 Simple Meals To Cook Up For the Family On The BBQ
We have a dishwasher, but I do love a one-pot dish! This one sounds divine. And you don’t need a dishwasher as long as you have Skater – AND the opportunity to spend time with him! 🙂
celia recently posted..Dripping Sticks
Love the dish and the story too Tania! Sorry, I’ve got a dishwasher but I am one of those OCD types who is very pedantic about the way it’s stacked and what I’ll allow in it. Whatever is left out is the duty of my girls- they do come in handy sometimes 🙂 By the way, I’d love your sink, my whole kitchen was lowered 1 inch when it was built and still isn’t low enough for my 5ft 1inch height 🙂 xox
InTolerant Chef recently posted..Mango Pudding for Chinese New Year
Hi Tanya
I think you omitted the tamarind from the list of ingredients. What form of tamarind and how much would you need for this?
My husband grew up in Zimbabwe, and I have eaten a dish not unlike this many times. It is most often made with a vegetable called, unfortunately, ‘rape’. Here in Australia we are more likely to see it called ‘choy sum’ or canola.
Hi Tanya
I think you omitted the tamarind from the list of ingredients. What form of tamaarind and how much would you need for this?
My husband grew up in Zimbabwe, and I have eaten a dish not unlike this many times. It is most often made with a vegetable called, unfortunately, ‘rape’. Here in Australia we are more likely to see it called ‘choy sum’ or canola.
I’ve had a few houses lately that didn’t have dishwashers. I must have done about 10 loads a day just trying to keep up with it all and have enough bench space to do the next round of cooking. I’m glad Skater can sacrifice time away from the electronics to help you. My Archie always has cups and glasses and bowls in a semi-circle around his idols as well. This is an excellent dish for anyone who doesn’t like to wash up xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Matevulu Blue Hole, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
Been wanting to try more African recipes. Thanks for sharing!
yummychunklet recently posted..Sara Moulton’s Tomato Gratin
How I chuckled about your dish-washing situation. It is the same here!!! How the heck do we get so many??? 🙂 This dish looks absolutely gorgeous. 🙂
Krista recently posted..When Green Returns and Middle Eastern Dips