Brunswick stew is a traditional Southern dish. According to the Brunswick County Virginia website, an African-American chef named "Uncle" Jimmy Matthews invented it during a hunting expedition in 1828 using squirrel, onions and whatever ingredients he had on hand. The flavorful dish caught on and, although somewhat modified over the years, Brunswick stew is still widely popular in Virginia and elsewhere.
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rinse one 3-lb. chicken, dry it carefully and sprinkle the top, bottom and cavity with salt. Place the bird in a roasting pan and bake for approximately 20 minutes per pound, or approximately an hour. Inject an instant-read meat thermometer into the inner thigh. The chicken is ready when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
2. Allow the chicken to cool before handling. Remove the skin and discard. Remove the meat from the bones and shred or chop. Add the shredded meat to the slow cooker, along with the pound of shredded beef or pork. You may also add half a pound of beef and half a pound of pork instead if you choose.
3. Add about 1 tbsp. of oil to the skillet. Finely chop one onion and saute it for approximately five minutes. Add the onion to the slow cooker, as well as 1 cup of frozen or canned lima beans, one 28-oz. can of diced tomatoes and one 15-oz. can of corn. Do not drain the liquid from the tomatoes or corn. Mix in 3/4 cup of ketchup, 3 tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce and 1 tsp. of lemon juice. Cover and cook for approximately six to eight hours on low heat, stirring occasionally, or cook overnight on low. Salt to taste.
4. Substitute two or three cans of boneless chicken, if you do not have time to roast a chicken. You can also use canned barbecue pork or beef, as well as cooked ground beef or ground turkey. Creamed corn can be substituted for the whole kernel corn if desired. If you are using a 3-quart slow cooker, you might need to leave out some of the tomatoes to prevent the stew from running over the sides.
Tags: slow cooker, Brunswick stew, half pound