Author Notes
If you have ever lived in south or central Virginia, it is likely you have heard of Brunswick stew. Until I moved to Richmond and started to date my husband, I had no knowledge of the thick tomato, potato, butter bean concoction. But once I did hear of it, I quickly realized that it is an institution in those parts (there are annual Brunswick Stew Festivals all over the state). A classic, beloved dish that is so satisfying it can cure any winter blues. This recipe is inspired by the taste of "Mrs. Fearnow’s Delicious Brunswick Stew with Chicken” (in the yellow can) and adapted from the Brunswick Stewmaster’s Association of Brunswick County, Virginia —onetinyspark
Continue After Advertisement
Ingredients
-
1.5 pounds
boneless chicken breast or thighs (thighs are traditionally used)
-
1.5 ounces
fatback, cut into 4 long slabs
-
4 cups
cups of low sodium chicken stock (water is traditionally used)
-
1 pound
Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped
-
1
yellow onion, chopped
-
1 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
-
1/2 - 1 teaspoons
cayenne pepper
-
1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt, or to taste
-
3/4 - 1 tablespoons
sugar
-
14 ounces
canned, crushed, no-salt-added tomatoes plus their juices
-
14 ounces
canned, drained butter beans (use fresh if in season)
-
14 ounces
canned, drained white shoe peg corn, drained (use fresh if in season)
-
2 tablespoons
unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
-
Smoked paprika to taste
Directions
-
Place the chicken and fatback in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Cover with the chicken stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, for about 1 hour. Discard the fatback, and help the chicken shred (it will happen easily) in the pot with two forks.
-
Next, add in the potatoes, onions, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt and sugar. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, until the potatoes are soft – roughly 30 minutes or so.
-
After, stir in the tomatoes, their juices and the butter beans. Cook for another 15-20 minutes and then stir in the corn and butter pieces. Let the stew cook on low, uncovered, for an hour longer so it becomes nice and thick.
-
Serve the stew hot and if you can’t eat it all, store it in the freezer (after it cools) for another day!
See what other Food52ers are saying.