Chef Melissa Miranda’s version of chicken afritada, a popular Filipinx stew, isn’t her lola’s afritada—and that’s totally okay with her. The chicken and hearty vegetables that comprise afritada are often stewed together, but here Miranda cooks each element of the dish separately and then combines them in a skillet. The reward for all your effort is a sublime mixture of textures in every bite: crispy-skinned chicken, tender-but-not-mushy vegetables, and velvety stewed tomatoes. “This is a dish I grew up eating and is one of my go-to comfort foods,” she says. “Although it’s not as recognizable as chicken adobo, it’s definitely close to the hearts of my team and myself.”
Watch Melissa make this recipe on our YouTube channel.
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What you’ll need
Cast Iron Skillet
$30 At Amazon
Cutting Board
$10 At IKEA
Chef's Knife
$61 $44 At Amazon
Tongs
$19 At Amazon
Recipe information
Yield
4–6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 425°. Season chicken all over with seasoning salt (or kosher salt and black pepper). Heat olive oil in a large deep ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Cook chicken, skin side down, until skin is golden brown, 5-7 minutes. Turn chicken over with tongs and cook until lightly browned on the other side, about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate.
Step 2
Add chopped bell pepper, onion, chopped carrot, and celery to skillet. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are softened but not yet browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and bay leaves; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, broth, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Taste and season with seasoning salt if needed. Return chicken, skin side up, to skillet in a single layer and transfer skillet to lower rack in oven. Roast until sauce is thickened and chicken is cooked through and deep golden brown on top, 40–45 minutes.
Step 3
Meanwhile, place potatoes and sliced carrots in a large bowl; drizzle with 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil and season with seasoning salt. Toss to coat. Transfer potatoes and carrots to a large rimmed baking sheet and spread out in an even layer. Roast on upper rack 10 minutes. Toss bell pepper pieces with remaining 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in bowl; season with seasoning salt. Remove baking sheet from oven and add pepper pieces in an even layer. Return to oven and continue to roast until vegetables are browned and tender, 10–15 minutes more.
Step 4
Remove chicken to a platter. Stir roasted vegetables, peas, and olives into sauce in skillet. Nestle chicken, skin side up, back into skillet. Serve with rice.
