Tomato Chicken Over Savory Cornmeal

Travelling in the south this year we were often served a thickened stew poured over a savory cornmeal cake.  We so enjoyed these meals that once back in Canada we set about making our own recipe. 

This is a great way to stretch a meal or way to use leftovers.  The cornmeal changes the flavour and brightens up leftovers.

Many of the dishes we were served featured poultry in a thick white gravy, rich in butter and milk.  We wanted less calories and more health benefits thus we started with a tomato base and to this we added vegetables and two chicken breasts.

Tomato Chicken over Savory Cornmeal

Ingredients:

Chicken:

• 2 boneless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 4 cups of broth (chicken, mushroom or vegetable which ever you have on hand)
• 2 cups finely chopped tomatoes (do not drain the juice)
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 3 cups frozen peas
• 1 can mushroom pieces
• 2 teaspoons soya sauce
• cornstarch

Savory Cornmeal Cake:

• ¼ cup of shortening
• 1 cup cornmeal (we enjoy a medium ground meal)
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon baking power
• 1 ½ teaspoon maple syrup or honey
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk

Directions:

Tomato Chicken stew

1. Chop the chicken, onion and garlic
2. In a frying pan sauté the above until the chicken is cooked
3. In a soup pot place the sautéed chicken mixture
4. To this add the broth, tomatoes, lemon juice and soya sauce.
5. Simmer on low for 2 hours (this can also be made in a slow cooker)
6. Once the chicken pieces are tender
7. Add to the soup pot the frozen peas, and mushroom pieces simmer for another 10 minutes.
8. Thicken the stew with cornstarch the amount is dependent on how you like your stew.

Savory Cornmeal Cake

1. Grease an 8 x 8-inch baking dish
2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
3. Melt shortening and set aside 
4. Sift together all of the dry ingredient
5. In a separate bowl combined all wet ingredients include the shortening
6. Incorporate the dry into the wet and pour into the baking dish
7. Bake for 20 minutes
8. Cut the cake into the number of people you are serving 6 to 8 pieces
9. Plate the cornmeal and pour the Tomato Chicken stew on top.

From Our Table to Yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2017 twosnydergirls