Chicken Casserole with Swede and Sweet Potato Mash

 
chickencasserole.jpg
 

I always thought casseroles took ages to cook but they don’t have to - this one can be put together and cooked within an hour. If you cannot tolerate any of the vegetables just swap them out for other ones you can tolerate - it doesn’t really matter what veg you use but I have tried to include easier to digest and better tolerated options for you here. If onions don’t work for you that’s fine you can use the green tops of salad onions or chives instead, and instead of garlic you can used garlic infused olive oil to cook with. There are always ways to adapt recipes by swapping ingredients you don’t like or can’t eat for other alternatives. I wanted to add a little more variety with the mash by using swede and sweet potato but feel free to use normal potatoes if you’d prefer.

Ingredients (serves 2-3)

For the stew

  • 4 chicken thighs

  • 1 large carrot, halved lengthways and cut into chunks

  • 2 celery stalks, halved lengthways and cut into chunks

  • 1 courgette, halved lengthways and cut into chunks

  • 1 fennel, halved and sliced

  • 1 onion, chopped finely

  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely

  • 1 tsp of rosemary

  • 1 tsp of thyme

  • 600ml chicken stock

  • 1 tbsp gluten free flour (I use Doves Farm) or cornflour

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

 

For the mash

  • 1 swede, peeled and cubed

  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed

  • 1 tsp dairy free butter (I use Naturli) or olive oil

  • Salt and pepper

 

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

  2. Heat the olive oil in a stewing pan (with a lid) on a medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and allow to cook for 3-5 mins, stirring regularly.

  3. Add carrot, celery, courgette, fennel, rosemary, and thyme. Allow to cook, stirring regularly for 5 mins.

  4. Add the flour and stir then add the chicken thighs and stock.

  5. Bring up to the boil then put the lid on and place in the oven to cook for 40 mins until the chicken is tender. (NB: if you don’t have a stewing pan you can use a saucepan with a lid but just keep it on the hob just simmering for the same amount of time and stir occasionally during cooking).

  6. Whilst the stew is in the oven, boil the swede and sweet potato together until soft. Drain and add the butter, salt and pepper and mash until smooth.

  7. Serve the stew and mash on its own or with a side of green veg.

Clemmie Macpherson