Salona (Emirati Chicken and Vegetable Stew)
Local name: سالونة
In short: A saucy tomato stew of chicken, potatoes, carrots and zucchini, spiced with coriander, cumin and dried lime and ladled over rice. It takes about 1 h 30 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 10 min
- Total
- 1 h 30 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 550 kcal
Salona is the everyday stew of Emirati kitchens, a saucy tomato gravy cooked with chicken or fish and whatever vegetables the cook has to hand. Potatoes, carrots and zucchini are the usual choices. Coriander, cumin, turmeric and a dried lime give the sauce its warm, slightly sour character, and the dish is spooned over plain rice so none of the gravy is wasted. It is quick to cook compared with machboos and a favorite on weeknights.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken in batches, about 4 minutes per side, then set it aside.
- Cook the onions in the same pot over medium heat for 8 minutes until deep golden. Add the garlic, ginger and all the spices and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes and tomato paste and cook for 8 minutes, stirring, until the mixture looks thick and the oil starts to separate.
- Return the chicken to the pot. Add the water, dried lime and salt, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and carrots and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the zucchini and cook 10 minutes more, until the vegetables are tender and the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Taste and adjust the salt. The sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon, so simmer uncovered for 5 minutes if it looks thin.
- Serve over the rice, scattered with cilantro.
Tips
- For a fish salona, skip the browning and add 700 g (1.5 lb) thick firm white fish steaks to the sauce for the final 10 minutes, with the potatoes cooked first.
- For a thicker gravy, mash a few pieces of potato into the sauce at the end of cooking.
Questions and answers
How spicy is salona?
Mild to medium. The chili powder is a small amount, so adjust it to taste, and add a fresh green chili if you like more heat.
Can I freeze salona?
Yes, but potatoes turn grainy after freezing, so leave them out if you can. The sauce and chicken keep for 3 months and reheat well.
What do you serve with salona?
Plain basmati rice, a cucumber and tomato salad and a squeeze of lemon. Some families add flatbread for scooping up the gravy.
How long does it take to make Salona (Emirati Chicken and Vegetable Stew)?
About 1 h 30 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Salona (Emirati Chicken and Vegetable Stew)?
About 550 kcal per serving, with 36 g of protein, 56 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 550 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 36 g |
| Carbohydrates | 56 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
