Haitian Poulet en Sauce with Diri Djon Djon

Ingredients

• 800 g chicken drumsticks
• 300 g long-grain white rice
• 20 g dried black mushrooms (djon djon) or dried porcini
• 400 g tinned chopped tomatoes
• 1 white onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 green pepper
• 3 fresh thyme
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Method

1. 1

   Soak the dried mushrooms in 400ml boiling water for 15 minutes. Drain, reserving the soaking liquid.

2. 2

   Season the chicken with allspice, salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a wide pan and brown the drumsticks all over for 8 minutes. Remove and set aside.

3. 3

   Add the diced onion and green pepper to the pan and cook for 4 minutes. Add the crushed garlic and thyme and cook for 1 minute more.

4. 4

   Stir in the chopped tomatoes, return the chicken and pour over the mushroom soaking liquid. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes.

5. 5

   Meanwhile, cook the rice using 600ml of fresh water, stirring in the chopped rehydrated mushrooms. Cook covered on the lowest heat for 18 minutes.

6. 6

   Serve the black mushroom rice topped with the chicken in its rich tomato sauce.