Compare the ingredients, cooking time and equipment below to find a dish that fits your plans. Each recipe includes quantities and a step-by-step method.
Preparation takes 15 minutes. Cooking takes 40 minutes. Allow 55 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 800g), green or brown lentils, rinsed, yellow onions, thinly sliced, olive oil, garlic, minced. Equipment: large heavy skillet or sauté pan with lid, wooden spoon or spatula, knife, cutting board, measuring spoons, measuring jug.
Kitchen tip: Use a heavy skillet or pan with a lid to ensure even cooking and to trap steam for the lentils to cook properly.
Preparation takes 20 minutes. Cooking takes 90 minutes. Allow 110 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.2 kg), vegetable oil, shallots, peeled and roughly chopped, garlic, peeled, red chilies, deseeded for less heat (adjust to taste). Equipment: large heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven with lid, blender or mortar and pestle, measuring spoons, chef's knife, cutting board, spatula or wooden spoon.
Kitchen tip: To speed up cooking, you can brown the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, then combine all ingredients for the braise step.
Preparation takes 20 minutes. Cooking takes 40 minutes. Allow 60 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: chicken thighs, carrots, potatoes, green cabbage, tomatoes. Equipment: large oven-safe skillet with lid or deep covered skillet, knife, cutting board, measuring spoons, measuring jug.
Kitchen tip: For best safety and flavor, ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) before serving.
Preparation takes 20 minutes. Cooking takes 15 minutes. Allow 35 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: beef, potatoes, vegetable oil, red onion, tomatoes. Equipment: large frying pan or skillet, mixing bowl, knife, cutting board, wooden spoon or spatula, paper towels.
Kitchen tip: Drying the beef strips before cooking helps achieve a good sear and prevents steaming.
Preparation takes 10 minutes. Cooking takes 15 minutes. Allow 25 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces, vegetable oil, red bell pepper, sliced, green bell pepper, sliced, snap peas, trimmed. Equipment: large cast-iron skillet or wok, wooden spoon or spatula, knife, cutting board, measuring spoons, measuring cups.
Kitchen tip: Cut all ingredients into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking.
Preparation takes 15 minutes. Cooking takes 45 minutes. Allow 60 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, vegetable oil, garlic, minced, fresh ginger, grated, turmeric powder. Equipment: large heavy skillet with lid or Dutch oven, knife, cutting board, measuring spoons, measuring jug, wooden spoon or spatula.
Kitchen tip: Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for juiciness and flavor.
Preparation takes 20 minutes. Cooking takes 60 minutes. Allow 80 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 1.2 kg / 2.6 lbs), Caribbean jerk seasoning, olive oil, onion, sliced, garlic, minced. Equipment: large heavy skillet or cast iron pan with lid, small saucepan with lid (for steaming rice), knife, cutting board, measuring spoons and cups.
Kitchen tip: For more heat, add finely chopped fresh scotch bonnet or habanero chili to the vegetables when sautéing.
Preparation takes 25 minutes. Cooking takes 25 minutes. Allow 50 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: saltfish, soaked and flaked, callaloo greens (substitute spinach/kale if unavailable), red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, tomatoes. Equipment: large skillet or frying pan, mixing bowl, knife, cutting board, colander, stove.
Kitchen tip: Soaking and boiling the salted fish properly helps reduce the saltiness for a balanced flavor.
Preparation takes 20 minutes. Cooking takes 25 minutes. Allow 45 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: chicken thighs, kecap manis, garlic, ginger, turmeric powder. Equipment: large bowl, stove-top skillet or frying pan, steaming basket or colander, pot with lid for steaming.
Kitchen tip: Marinate the chicken up to 2 hours in advance to enhance the flavor.
Preparation takes 15 minutes. Cooking takes 25 minutes. Allow 40 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces, berbere spice mix, mitmita (Ethiopian chili powder) or cayenne pepper, adjust to taste, vegetable oil or olive oil, garlic, minced. Equipment: large heavy skillet with lid, cutting board, sharp knife, measuring spoons and cups, wooden spoon or spatula.
Kitchen tip: Marinate the chicken for longer (up to 1 hour) if time allows to deepen the flavors.
Preparation takes 10 minutes. Cooking takes 25 minutes. Allow 35 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: vegetable oil, onion, finely chopped, garlic, minced, fresh ginger, grated, berbere spice blend. Equipment: large skillet or frying pan with lid, wooden spoon, measuring spoons, knife, cutting board.
Kitchen tip: If you prefer a thicker sauce, increase the cooking time uncovered in step 7 to reduce the liquid further.
Preparation takes 20 minutes. Cooking takes 40 minutes. Allow 60 minutes in total. Makes 4 servings. Key ingredients: lamb shoulder, cut into 3 cm cubes, olive oil, onion, finely chopped, garlic, minced, ground cumin. Equipment: pressure cooker (electric or stovetop), large skillet or sauté pan, small saucepan or heatproof bowl for couscous, knife and chopping board, measuring spoons and cups, wooden spoon or spatula.
Kitchen tip: For best flavor, brown the lamb well before pressure cooking to develop a rich base.