Help with my sc meal today please

orchid-96

Hi all - I am needing a bit of help today - I can manage chilli/bolog etc in my slow cooker but I want to do something today with the following

chicken legs
Veg - got carrot/swede/parsnip/onion/pots

I want to make a chicken stew but don't know how to go about it...

we don't do bones so I either need to cook the chicken first (maybe in the oven ) or strip the meat off...I usually like to fry off meat before putting it in as well...

Also I don't know what I should put in to flavour it - whenever I try to make something like this it comes out tasting like a sort of baby food chicken dinner!!

Help!

Pink.

Hi orchid,

If you don't do bones then you'll need to remove them beforehand or pick them out before you serve the meal. I'm afraid that I just serve it bones and all and if anyone objects then they can have the fun job of removing them. I'm not keen on using chicken that's been cooked previously because sometimes I find it goes a bit stringy, but that might just be me.

I like to brown the skin of chicken because I think it gives it a better colour and flavour but I know many people don't bother. Another way is to cook it from raw and then remove the chicken pieces towards the end of cooking and pop them under a hot grill for a few minutes to crisp up the skin.

Sometimes, if I have time I quickly fry the veg in butter before adding them to the slow cooker but often I don't bother. Root vegetables take quite a while to cook so are best put in the bottom of the crock and covered with liquid, with the meat on top or mixed through.

To add extra flavour it's a good idea to add stock rather than just water (doesn't necessarily have to be homemade..a stock cube or two is fine) and then choose your flavours and add herbs and/or spices. One of my favourites with chicken is tarragon but it's got quite a strong aniseed flavour so not to everyones taste. Mixed herbs, rosemary and garlic, thyme, chilli, black pepper etc all work well.

There's an earlier thread that may help:

chicken stew recipes pls

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the replies together.

Good luck with your stew!

Pink