Poulet Fafa#EatTheWorld

Poulet Fafa is a French Polynesian chicken dish, which is an incredibly easy and delicious recipe. This dish gets it name Fafa, since fafa is taro leaves which is also called “Polynesian spinach”. This also makes a perfect low carb/keto dish.

Taro is rich in minerals, iron and calcium. Since taro/fafa leaves have an irritating effect on the throat, these must be cook for a long time in salted water to avoid a slight irritation on the tongue/throat after eating them ( in India we use tamarind to remove this irritation on the throat /tongue from the leaves). I added tamarind juice, salt to the water, then cooked the leaves, drained the water and then used the leaves in the dish.  

If taro leaves are difficult to find, then you can use spinach as a substitute. If you are using fresh spinach leaves then no need to boil them in tamarind & salt water. You can use this directly while making the dish. If using frozen spinach, thaw first, then squeeze dry before adding to the chicken. It is very easy dish to make

Serves 3
Ingredients
300 Grams Taro leaves (Fafa) or Spinach
1 Tablespoon Heaped Tamarind paste
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
600 Grams Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 Medium Onion - finely chopped
2 Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Small Piece Ginger - minced
½ Cup Chicken Stock or Water - I used Chicken Stock
Salt & Black pepper powder to taste
1 - 2 Teaspoons Cornstarch or Arrowroot powder
1/3 Cup Coconut Cream **see notes

Method 

If using taro leaves, bring a large pot of water with the tamarind paste & ½ teaspoon salt to a boil. Add the taro leaves, reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and place them in ice cold water to stop the cooking process . Then squeeze them dry.
Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large pot.
Brown the chicken on all sides in the hot oil and remove to a plate. 

Sauté the onion, garlic and ginger in the remaining oil until the onion is translucent.
Add back the chicken pieces and the chicken stock, salt and pepper to taste.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes. Add the taro leaves or spinach and simmer for another 15 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.
Stir the arrowroot powder into 2 or 3 tablespoons of cold water and then stir the slurry into the simmering sauce to thicken it lightly.

Stir in coconut cream to finish and serve over rice. I enjoyed this with cauliflower rice.

My Notes
Coconut cream is the thick coconut milk that rises to the top of a can of coconut milk. Avoid shaking the can before you open it and you can skim it right off the top.
I used coconut cream powder, mixed 1½ tablespoons coconut cream powder in 1/3 warm water.

Labels: Chicken, Main course, French Polynesian, Eat The world, International Cuisine, Low Carb, Keto

                    

Each month Evelyne of CulturEatz invites us to visit a country and explore their foods. This month it's French Polynesian.

Check out all the wonderful French Polynesian dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Find out how to join Eat the World here and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us! 

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