Dominican Island Chicken with Passion Fruit, Sweet Potato, and Cilantro

Name: Dominican Island Chicken with Passion Fruit, Sweet Potato, and Cilantro
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Dominicana
Ingredients: 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1.1 lb sweet potato; 3/4 cup passion fruit pulp; 1 cup red onion; 2/3 cup Dominican sweet pepper; 6 cloves garlic; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1/2 cup orange juice; 1 cup chicken broth; 3 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tbsp honey; 1 leaf bay leaf

An original stew inspired by Dominican flavors: chicken browned first, then simmered in a balanced sauce of passion fruit, garlic, red onion, sweet peppers, and a touch of tomato, served with roasted sweet potato and finished with fresh cilantro. It has a sweet-tangy, aromatic, distinctly Caribbean profile.

20 minPrep

45 minCook

65 minTotal

4Servings

Gluten-FreeDairy-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en trozos large)
500 g sweet potato (pelada and cut diced of 3 cm)
180 ml passion fruit pulp (without semillas if preferred textura more suave)
150 g red onion (in strips finas)
80 g Dominican sweet pepper (sliced)
18 g garlic (chopped fino)
20 g fresh cilantro (chopped, divided)
30 g tomato paste (for dar color and profundidad)
120 ml orange juice (natural)
240 ml chicken broth (low sodium)
45 ml olive oil (divided)
2 g dried oregano
1 g ground cumin
2 g sweet paprika
8 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
15 ml apple cider vinegar
15 ml honey (optional for redondear the acidez)
1 unit bay leaf

Nutrition facts

per serving

402 kcal

Calories

32 g

Protein

28 g

Carbs

18 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

24 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

No declared allergens

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Place the sweet potato on a sheet pan and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until tender and browned.
2
While the sweet potato roasts, season the chicken with the remaining salt, remaining black pepper, dried oregano, ground cumin, and 1 tablespoon of the chopped fresh cilantro.
3
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side, without fully cooking it through. Remove and set aside.
4
Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the same pan. Sauté the red onion, sweet pepper, and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring so it lightly caramelizes.
5
Add the passion fruit pulp, orange juice, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, honey, and bay leaf. Mix well and bring to a gentle boil.
6
Return the chicken to the pan along with any collected juices. Reduce to medium-low heat and cook covered for 18 to 20 minutes, until the chicken is tender and the sauce is slightly thickened.
7
Uncover, add half of the remaining fresh cilantro, and cook 2 to 3 minutes more to adjust the sauce consistency. Remove the bay leaf.
8
Serve the chicken with its sauce over or alongside the roasted sweet potato, and finish with the rest of the fresh cilantro on top.

Chef tips

If the passion fruit is very tart, add the honey; if it is naturally sweet, you can skip it. For a smoother sauce, strain the pulp before using. Do not overcrowd the pan when browning the chicken so it develops good color.

Substitutions

You can substitute the sweet potato with roasted yautía or pumpkin. Cilantro can be replaced with fresh parsley if preferred. If you cannot find Dominican sweet peppers, use mini sweet peppers.

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
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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Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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