Slow cooker chicken with eggplant, chickpeas, and mild smoky tomato-cinnamon sauce

Name: Slow cooker chicken with eggplant, chickpeas, and mild smoky tomato-cinnamon sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 380 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusión mediterránea
Ingredients: 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 14 oz eggplant; 2 cups cooked chickpeas; 1 1/4 cups yellow onion; 4 cloves garlic; 14 oz crushed tomato; 3/4 cup chicken broth; 3/4 cup roasted red pepper; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tsp sweet smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 3/4 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp sherry vinegar; 1/4 cup fresh parsley; 1/2 cup plain yogurt

An original slow cooker stew with tender chicken thighs, silky eggplant, and chickpeas in a mild tomato sauce scented with smoked paprika and a hint of cinnamon. Comforting, balanced, and perfect as a complete meal.

20 minPrep

360 minCook

380 minTotal

4Servings

Gluten-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en trozos large)
400 g eggplant (diced medium)
400 g cooked chickpeas (escurridos and enjuagados)
180 g yellow onion (chopped)
12 g garlic (chopped)
400 g crushed tomato (en conserva or casero)
180 ml chicken broth (low sodium if possible)
120 g roasted red pepper (chopped fino)
30 ml olive oil (divided)
6 g sweet smoked paprika
1.5 g ground cinnamon
2 g ground cumin
1 g dried oregano
6 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
15 ml sherry vinegar
12 g fresh parsley (chopped)
120 g plain yogurt (for servir, optional)

Nutrition facts

per serving

435 kcal

Calories

34 g

Protein

24 g

Carbs

24 g

Fat

7 g

Fiber

17 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Dairy

Instructions

1
1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season them with half of the salt and the black pepper.
2
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and brown the chicken for 2 minutes per side, without fully cooking it. Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker.
3
3. In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes until it starts to soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
4
4. Add the eggplant, roasted red pepper, smoked paprika, cinnamon, cumin, and oregano. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring, so the spices perfume the mixture.
5
5. Stir in the crushed tomato, chicken broth, remaining salt, and sherry vinegar. Mix well and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer for 1 minute.
6
6. Pour the sauce from the skillet over the chicken in the slow cooker. Add the cooked chickpeas and stir gently to distribute them.
7
7. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until the chicken is very tender and reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F and 74°C.
8
8. Uncover, taste the sauce, and adjust salt if needed. For a thicker sauce, let it rest for 10 minutes with the lid slightly ajar.
9
9. Serve hot with fresh parsley on top and an optional spoonful of plain yogurt on each portion.

Chef tips

For deeper flavor, brown the chicken well before adding it to the slow cooker. Eggplant absorbs a lot of flavor, so do not skip sautéing it with the spices. If you prefer a more unified texture, lightly mash a few chickpeas at the end.

Substitutions

You can use turkey thigh instead of chicken. Sherry vinegar can be replaced with red wine vinegar. For a dairy-free version, omit the yogurt or serve it with an unsweetened plant-based alternative.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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