Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

1. Whisk together garlic, white parts of green onions, brown sugar, thyme, habanero, vinegar, ginger, salt, pepper, paprika, and allspice in a large mixing bowl.

2. Make 2 cuts, about 1-inch apart, into the skin side of each thigh, perpendicular to the bone, cutting all the way down to the bone. Add chicken thighs to marinade; mix until evenly coated. Cover and place in the refrigerator to marinate, at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. If possible, flip thighs several times while marinating.

3. Remove chicken from marinade. Scrape off any chunks of marinade from chicken into the bowl and reserve for later.

4. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large, deep, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Working in batches, brown the chicken all over, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to the marinade bowl; set aside.

5. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt; cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon brown sugar and cook until onions are dark brown and caramelized, 3 to 5 minutes more.

6. Add chicken broth, ketchup, and bay leaves to the pan; bring to a boil. Add carrots, bell peppers, browned chicken thighs, and reserved marinade.

7. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until chicken is tender and no longer pink in the center and sauce has reduced and thickened, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Skim excess fat that floats to the top; baste chicken occasionally with sauce.

8. Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in green parts of green onions.

Chef's Notes:

If you prefer a less sweet flavor profile, use only 1 tablespoon of brown sugar in the marinade. You can get away with marinating the chicken for only 4 hours, but longer is better.

You can use diced tomatoes instead of ketchup, and any seasonal vegetables that you like.

If the chicken finishes cooking before the sauce reduces, remove the thighs and keep them warm while the sauce continues to simmer. If the sauce reduces and thickens before the chicken cooks, add a splash of water and continue to cook until chicken is done.