Huku ne Dovi

Huku ne Dovi

Huku ne Dovi (HOO-koo neh DOH-vee)

Chicken in Peanut Butter Sauce

Prep Time 1 hour
📈 Difficulty Medium
👥 Servings
6
🔥 Calories 448 kcal

Free-range chicken pieces braised in a thick peanut butter and tomato sauce until falling off the bone, Zimbabwe's most celebrated chicken dish.

Nutrition & Info

450 kcal per serving
Protein 35.0g
Carbs 14.0g
Fat 28.0g
Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

gluten-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ peanuts

Equipment Needed

large pot wooden spoon cutting board knife

Presentation Guide

Vessel: large serving bowl

Garnishes: crushed peanuts, fresh parsley

Accompaniments: sadza, muriwo

Instructions

  1. 1

    Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and curry powder, rubbing the spices into the skin.

  2. 2

    Heat oil in a large pot and brown chicken pieces on all sides, about three minutes per side.

  3. 3

    Remove chicken, add onions to the pot, and sauté until golden, about six minutes.

  4. 4

    Add tomatoes and cook until they form a thick sauce, roughly five minutes of stirring.

  5. 5

    Dissolve peanut butter in two cups warm water, pour into the pot, and stir until smooth.

  6. 6

    Return chicken to the pot, cover, and simmer on low heat for forty minutes until chicken is tender and sauce is thick. Serve with sadza.

💡

Did You Know?

In Zimbabwean culture, a woman's ability to cook huku ne dovi well was traditionally considered an important domestic skill.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

  • large pot
  • wooden spoon
  • cutting board
  • knife

Garnishing

crushed peanuts, fresh parsley

Accompaniments

sadza, muriwo

The Story Behind Huku ne Dovi

Huku ne dovi is arguably Zimbabwe's national dish alongside sadza, representing the marriage of free-range chicken farming and groundnut cultivation that has defined Shona agriculture for centuries. The dish gained its prominence because both chickens and peanuts were widely available across Zimbabwe's communal lands. Every family has their own variation, with the ratio of peanut butter to tomato being the most debated element. The dish is inseparable from the Sunday lunch tradition.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed sunday lunch, celebrations 📜 Origins: Traditional Shona

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