Thursday, August 5, 2010

Rainy Days and Mondays...

Okay...it's not Monday...but that sounds nice...like the Carpenter's song. But rainy days are here again in my part of the world. We can definitely feel the chill which is really welcome because we have summer here almost all year round. And times like these call for warm filling soups and stews like this re-worked Brunswick stew from last April's Daring Cook's Challenge. This time instead of using stewed tomatoes, I cooked it with crushed tomatoes. I have to say in addition to other Filipino soups and stews that I crave when the rainy season starts, this is becoming a new favorite.
Rainy Day Stew
Oil 2 tablespoons
Bacon, chopped 200 grams
Chicken fillet, diced 500 grams
Hungarian Sausage, halved then diced 4 pieces
Crushed tomatoes 1 can
Celery, peeled and diced 2 stalks
Bay leaf, dry 2 pieces
Potatoes, peeled and diced 4 pieces
Carrots, peeled and diced 2 pieces
Onion, peeled and diced 1 piece
Corn kernel 1 can
White beans, boiled until tender 250 grams
Chili, dried 2 pieces
Chicken stock 1 liter

Preheat pot with oil, fry bacon, transfer to plate and in the same pot, fry chilies until fragrant, remove and add to bacon on plate. Season chicken pieces and place in pot, brown until golden in color. Remove to plate. Deglaze the pan with 1/2 of the stock. Boil until reduced. Add remaining stock, celery, bay leaf, potatoes and the meats including the sausages. Cook for 30 minutes and add in the onions, beans, crushed tomatoes and corn. Cook until vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot. Curl up with a good book and a bowl of this :)


4 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh I understand the need for soup on rainy days. I look for that too :D.

chef_d said...

Joy, especially now...a storm has just passed and they said there are 2 more coming...

Kris Ngoei said...

Rainy? Same here.... it is actually quite nice and cooling... And yes, I kind of reminisce the aroma and flavor of brunswick stew.... and really really miss it..

Sawadee from bangkok,
Kris

chef_d said...

Kris, yes it's quite nice, a welcome break from our tropical climate. This stew makes me want to curl up with a good book :)