Poulet DG- an exotic tomato-based West African plantain and chicken stew. Full of not only flavorful chicken and sweet plantains, but also carrots, green beans, onion, and a touch of heat from habanero peppers.
This recipe is so simple to make and tastes incredibly delicious. Poulet DG cooked in a delicious, rich and fragrant sauce, with a perfect balance of sweet, savory and spicy flavors.
It`s been 11 years since I first tasted Poulet DG. I first came across this dish on YouTube while searching for some dinner ideas. When I saw it, I decided to give it a try and once I tasted it, I was hooked. We like it so much such that, in all that time, it has been a regular at our dinner table.
Get ready to try this exotic stew packed full of flavor, veggies and goodness. Taste this dish once, and it is going to become one of your go-to African dinner recipes.
What is Poulet DG?
This is a one-pot tomato based stew made of ripe fried plantains, chicken and vegetables like carrots, and green beans.
Poulet DG is a French word which means “chicken for the Director General”. Back in the days, this dish was served either for upper class citizens of Cameroon or on special occasions. Now, it is a common dish that anyone has a priviledge to make and eat in the comfort of their home.
Origin of Poulet DG
Poulet DG is an African recipe from Cameroon. This West African country is bi-lingual (speaking English and French) and this dish originates from the French speaking side of the country.
Is Poulet DG Healthy?
Plantains are very similar to a potato calorie-wise, but contain more of certain vitamins and minerals.
Their fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, C, and vitamin B6 content, coupled with their lack of cholesterol, all support heart health.
To make poulet DG even healthier, instead of frying the plantains, bake them in the oven.
Chicken is lean meat that is always included in a healthy diet. Chicken meat provides vitamins mainly from the B complex, including Niacin or vitamin B3, which is essential for the metabolism of fats and sugars in the body, as well as for maintaining healthy cells. It also contains minerals such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and zinc.
Best Plantains For Poulet DG
The best plantains to use for Poulet DG are ripe plantains with yellow skin, not dark or black skin. Plantains with darker skin are too ripe and won’t hold their shape well when stewed.
Ingredients for Poulet DG
- Skinless chicken(drum sticks or thighs or a whole chicken cut into pieces)
- Ripe plantains (peeled and cut into bite-size pieces)
- Carrots (peeled and chopped)
- Onion (peeled and chopped)
- Tomatoes (diced)
- green seasoning paste or garlic ginger paste.
- Green beans (chopped)
- Habanero pepper
- Cooking oil
- Salt
- Seasoning cubes
- Black pepper
- dried parsley
- chili flakes (optional)
A full list of the measurements is in the recipe box below.
How to Make The Best Poulet DG
- First of all, heat oil in a large skillet and fry the plantains till well cooked and golden brown. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté for about 3 minutes till nicely browned.
- To that, add green seasoning paste and sauté till fragrant; about 1 minute.
- At this point, add salt, seasoning cube, pepper and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Follow by adding the tomatoes, and fry the tomatoes till well broken down and cooked.
- Add chicken and habanero pepper and stir till well coated with the tomato sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and cook the chicken for 20 minutes without adding water. The chicken will produce some of its juices, so don’t worry.
- Last but not least, add carrots, and green beans. Mix well and simmer on medium-low heat for 7 minutes.
- Lastly, add fried plantains; chili flakes and parsley and mix gently. Simmer once more with a covered lid for 3 minutes on low heat.
How To Serve Poulet DG
I love poulet DG because it is a complete meal on its own. It is full of filling carbohydrate from the sweet plantains, healthy proteins from the deliciously juicy chicken and essential vitamins from the crunchy vegetables.
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerating poulet DG will maximize the shelf life. Simply store in an air-tight container, and put in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Freeze in an air-tight freezer-suitable container for 2-3 months.
To thaw, leave overnight in the fridge of for a couple of hours on the kitchen countertop.
Reheating Leftovers
To re-heat, transfer the poulet DG into a large pot and warm over medium-low heat till thoroughly heated through; about 10 minutes.
More Tips
- For healthier dish, fry plantains in air-fryer or bake in the oven.
- Chopping habanero will add more spice to this dice. If you want a milder taste, leave the habanero pepper whole.
- Note that I made this dish without adding any water because it wasn’t necessary. Incase your stew turns out dry, simply add a little bit of water to thin it out.
Other African Stew Recipes You May Like:
Poulet DG (African Plantain and Chicken Stew)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds skinless chicken cut into pieces
- 4 pounds ripe plantains peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 large onion peeled and diced
- 1 tbsp green seasoning paste or garlic ginger paste.
- 5 large ripe tomatoes diced
- 1 cup carrots peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup green beans chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 seasoning cubes
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp parsley
- habanero pepper optional
- 1 tsp chili flakes optional
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet and fry the plantains till well cooked and golden brown. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté for about 3 minutes till nicely browned.
- To that, add green seasoning paste and sauté till fragrant; about 1 minute.
- At this point, add salt, seasoning cube, pepper and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Follow by adding the tomatoes, and fry the tomatoes till well broken down and cooked.
- Add chicken and habanero pepper and stir till well coated with the tomato sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and cook the chicken for 20 minutes without adding water. The chicken will produce some of its juices, so don't worry.
- Last but not least, add carrots and green beans. Mix well and simmer on medium-low heat for 7 minutes.
- Lastly, add fried plantains; chili flakes and parsley and mix gently. Simmer once more with a covered lid for 3 minutes on low heat.
Notes
- For healthier dish, fry plantains in air-fryer or bake in the oven.
- Chopping habanero will add more spice to this dice. If you want a milder taste, leave the habanero pepper whole.
- Note that I made this dish without adding any water because it wasn't necessary. Incase your stew turns out dry, simply add a little bit of water to thin it out.
If you enjoy this poulet DG recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with Star rating. I would love to hear from you.
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Such an easy recipe to follow and a really great turn out!! I used chicken bouillon cube instead of seasoning powder and it was just the right amount of salt needed!
Amazing feedback. I am glad you loved it. Thanks.
I loved this recipe even though mine didn’t look as appetizing as yours does.
Lol. Glad you loved the flavors and thanks for your feedback.
I was curious and tried this recipe even though I have never heard of it before. It turned out really good and we really enjoyed it.
Thanks, Mary Ann. I am glad it worked out for you and am very glad you left feedback.
Oh Jayne, this is basically how my mum makes it. I CAN ALREADY TASTE IT just by your pictures wow they are stunning. I know what I’m making come weekend thanks to you. God bless you.
🙂 🙂 Awesome awesome. Do make it soon. I am sure you will love it and thanks for sharing.