African Dish: Muamba de Galinha
Muamba de Galinha is one of the most popular Angolan foods. In fact, it is often dubbed the country’s national dish. It translates to Chicken in Muamba (palm oil) sauce, as it is a chicken stew with palm oil, tomatoes, butternut squash, and okra. Palm oil is a popular base in West African stews given its vibrant red color and distinct flavor that enhances the taste of whatever you cook with it.
3 tbsp. vegetable oil
3 tbsp. palm oil
3 ½ lbs. chicken
3 onions, chopped or sliced
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp. tomato paste
3 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
3 bay leaves
Juice of ½ lemon
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. white pepper
½ tsp. dried thyme
½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp. ground cumin
1-2 habanero peppers, pierced
1 chicken bouillon cube
2 c. chicken broth or water, plus more
1 lb. butternut squash, cubed into ½-inch chunks
20 okra pods, sliced lengthwise in half
Fresh parsley, to garnish (optional)
