Admittedly, the ingredient list for country captain chicken may give you pause at first glance—chicken with tomatoes, peppers, and…raisins? And curry powder? But I promise it adds up to something comforting and delicious.
Hailing from the low country of South Carolina, this iconic Southern dish incorporates flavors from further afield. Its exact origin remains a mystery, but some food historians believe the recipe came about from merchant ships (sometimes called “country ships” with “country captains”) bringing curry powder and other spices to the US from India in the 1800s, and intrepid cooks finding interesting uses for them.
And interesting (and delicious!) this dish definitely is. Rich chicken thighs are dredged in seasoned flour and crisped up in bacon fat, then braised until tender in a unique aromatic, vegetable-packed sauce. With pops of sweetness from plumped-up raisins, lots of warmth from fragrant curry powder, and crispy morsels of salty bacon and toasted nuts on top, you’ll be ready to say “ahoy!” to this chicken dinner.
How to Serve Country Captain Chicken
Rice is an important part of South Carolina cuisine, especially Carolina Gold. Spoon the sauce and chicken over cooked white rice and sprinkle it with the cooked bacon and toasted sliced almonds. You can also sprinkle the dish with unsweetened flaked coconut and/or chopped fresh cilantro, which are other common toppings.
Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Sally McKay / Christina Daley
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4 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped (about 1 cup)
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3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
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4 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, divided
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4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, patted dry (about 8 ounces each)
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1 medium yellow onion, chopped
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1 green bell pepper, chopped
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3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
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1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed with your hands
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1/2 cup raisins
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4 cups cooked white rice, for serving
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Toasted sliced almonds, for garnish, optional
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Cook the bacon:
In a large Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s browned and crispy, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon; reserve the fat in the Dutch oven.
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Coat the chicken:
While the bacon cooks, in a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the curry powder.
Dust the chicken thighs in the flour mixture until they’re evenly coated; discard the remaining flour mixture.
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Brown the chicken:
Return the reserved drippings to medium-high heat. Place the coated thighs, skin-side down, in the Dutch oven. Cook, undisturbed, until the chicken skin is crisp and browned, 8 to 10 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to prevent over-browning. Transfer the partially-cooked chicken to a plate.
Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Sally McKay / Christina Daley
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Make the sauce:
Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions, bell pepper, garlic, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt to the now-empty pot. Cook, stirring often and scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot, until softened, about 8 minutes.
Add the remaining 4 teaspoons curry powder and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and their juice and the raisins.
Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Sally McKay / Christina Daley
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Finish cooking the chicken:
Bring the tomato mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Nestle the chicken, skin side up, into the sauce, adding any accumulated juices from the plate.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring the tomato mixture around the chicken occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the chicken registers at least 165°F, 25 to 30 minutes.
Serve with rice and garnish with almonds, if using, and reserved chopped bacon.
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Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Sally McKay / Christina Daley
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 562 | Calories |
| 29g | Fat |
| 34g | Carbs |
| 48g | Protein |
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 562 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| 29g | 37% |
| Saturated Fat 9g | 43% |
| 230mg | 77% |
| 1518mg | 66% |
| 34g | 12% |
| Dietary Fiber 7g | 24% |
| Total Sugars 19g | |
| 48g | |
| Vitamin C 49mg | 243% |
| Calcium 123mg | 9% |
| Iron 4mg | 24% |
| Potassium 1152mg | 25% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
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