This comforting Mauritian chicken daube is a tasty one pot recipe that's great as an easy midweek meal. The leftovers of this spicy curried chicken stew taste amazing too and so it's a great meal for batch cooking.

If you haven't tried Mauritian food then you really should! It's deliciously spicy and full of flavour. This Mauritian chicken daube is just one great recipe that can easily be made at home. You don't need too many ingredients and it's perfect for spice lovers, which if you're reading this, I'm sure you are!
I love to make chicken stews and curries and if I had to eat just one kind of food for the rest of my life it would be spicy stews and curries. If that's how you feel too then you're in the right place.
You may not be able to travel around the world but trying different spices and cooking up meals like this is one way to experience exotic destinations without having to travel.
Eating this Mauritian chicken stew also reminded me of just how much better homemade curries and stews are than anything you can buy. so, if spicy stews are your thing, give this Mauritian chicken daube a go!
What is Mauritian Chicken Daube?
Chicken daube is a traditional one pot meal in Mauritius made with chicken, potatoes and spices. It's like a cross between a stew and a curry - all the lovely flavours of a curry but like a stew as well.
Although a daube is traditionally a French stew made with beef, wine and vegetables, this adaptation has become just as much a traditional Mauritian dish.
If only I could actually go to Mauritius...
Ingredients for Mauritian chicken daube
If you want to make this Mauritian chicken stew you'll need:
- Cooking oil - I usually use a light olive oil or vegetable oil.
- Cumin seeds - These add lots of flavour to the oil. If you don't have seeds you can replace them with ground cumin but add along with the curry powder.
- Onion - Red or brown onions are all fine.
- Root ginger - Feel free to replace this with frozen grated ginger or ginger paste.
- Garlic - I do like to use fresh garlic but garlic paste is also fine.
- Chilli pepper - I usually use a green supermarket chilli pepper. Red ones are fine too.
- Curry powder - I used Seasoned Pioneers Mauritius Massalé spice blend. If you can't get hold of this any Indian curry powder will work as an alternative.
- Chicken - My family prefer breast meat but thigh meat works really well.
- Potato
- Green pepper - You can use a red, yellow or orange pepper instead or even a mixture.
- Chopped tinned tomatoes - You can replace these with passata or fresh tomatoes instead.
- Coriander leaves

How to make Mauritian chicken daube
This Mauritian chicken daube is very easy to make. First heat a little oil in a large saucepan. As soon as it is hot, add the cumin seeds. After about 30 seconds they will smell very aromatic. At this point add the diced onion, ginger, garlic and chilli pepper and cook gently for about 5 minutes.
Then stir in the spice blend. If the pan seems dry, add a spoonful of water to stop the spices from burning. Stir into the onions. Then add the diced chicken. Cook for another couple of minutes, stirring a few times so the chicken is sealed on all sides.
Then add the green pepper, diced potato, tinned tomatoes and some chopped coriander leaves. I also usually add about 100ml of water too. Stir well and then put the lid on and leave to simmer for about 40-50 minutes till everything is cooked through. Serve with rice topped with more fresh coriander leaves.

Could you adapt this Chicken Daube Recipe?
This is quite a simple Mauritian chicken stew recipe but it's still adaptable. For a more fiery stew you could add extra chillies. I often have a little bowl of chopped fresh chillies on the table so my husband and I can add a few extra to our plates.
I added a green pepper but you can use any colour of pepper. You could also add aubergine (eggplant) or courgette (zucchini) to up the vegetable content. In fact, feel free to add whatever extra vegetables you fancy.
I used a Mauritian curry powder but of course, don't feel you have to get it specially for this recipe. Just use whatever curry powder you have. After all, you'll still get an easy tasty midweek meal!
What spices are in this Mauritian chicken daube?
Normally I like to mix my own spices together but this time I tried a spice blend, Mauritius Massalé from Seasoned Pioneers*. It has a warm peppery flavour and a lovely smell of cinnamon and cloves.
Of course you could use another curry powder or even miss it out altogether and this would still be delicious. Maybe just add a few cloves and cinnamon. Definitely don't let not having the right curry powder stop you from making this recipe.
Storing and freezing
If you have any leftovers they will keep in the fridge for up to three days. You can reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan. Just add a little extra water if you're reheating on the stove top so that it doesn't go dry and stick to the pan.
You can also freeze it for up to three months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and then reheat in the microwave.
Alternatively you can reheat it in the oven. Put it in an ovenproof dish, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes at 180C.

Recipe

Mauritian Chicken Daube
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 onion finely chopped
- small piece root ginger grated
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 green chilli pepper finely sliced
- 4 teaspoon curry powder I used Seasoned Pioneers Mauritius Massalé spice blend
- 400 g chicken diced
- 1 potato cut into about 8 pieces
- 1 green pepper sliced
- 400 g chopped tinned tomatoes
- Handful coriander leaves
Instructions
- Put a little oil in a saucepan and fry the cumin seeds for about 30 seconds. Then add the onions, ginger, garlic and chilli pepper and cook until soft.
- Stir in the curry powder and then add the chicken. Cook and keep turning until the chicken is sealed on all sides but not cooked through.
- Add the potato, the sliced pepper, most of the coriander and chopped tomatoes. Add a little extra water if necessary to just cover the chicken and potatoes. Bring to the boil and then lower to a simmer for about 40 minutes.
- Serve with rice and topped with a little of the reserved coriander.
Notes
Nutrition
More spicy chicken recipes you might like!
I'm afraid I don't have any more Mauritian recipes on my site right now but I do have lots of spicy recipes. How about one of these?
- Chicken and callaloo curry
- Harissa chicken tray bake
- North Indian chicken curry
- Ethiopian chicken stew
Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make this Mauritian chicken daube. I love to get feedback from readers.
You can also stay up to date by following on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
This looks so full of flavour! I went to Mauritius last year and when I was in the capital, I went to their spice market to buy vanilla beans. The man there gave me a recipe for a Mauritian curry which I keep meaning to make and add my own twist to. But we moved house a few months ago and I haven't found the recipe yet! Hope my version looks as good as yours when I finally get round to making it!
Corina Blum
I hope you find it soon. I would love to go to Mauritius one day and eat the real thing!
Eb Gargano
I love a good chicken stew, but this is one I definitely haven't tried before - now I'm thinking I really ought to!! Eb x
Balvinder
We love chicken in our house and I am always looking for new recipes. I can imagine myself making this.
Corina Blum
We eat a lot of chicken too! I'm pleased you like this recipe.
Jenny walters
This looks and sound so tasty.Fab colours too.I don't tend to have too many curry dishes in my repertoire so will pin this beauty for future use!
Corina Blum
I hope you like it! It's a really easy one and because of the potatoes you don't even need to serve it with rice - it makes a good one pot meal just as it is.
Jacqui Bellefontaine
that looks really delcicous Corina and nice and simple too. I love seasoned pioneers spice mixes such good quality
Corina Blum
Thanks Jacqui! The seasoned pioneer spices are really good and I love the range of different ones.
jason
looks very nice. Will have to try this. Do you think it would work the same using a slow cooker?
Thanks for posting
Corina Blum
Yes, It would be easy to make in the slow cooker too. You could just transfer everything to the slow cooker at step 3 or even just put everything in and then set it off.
Janice
I love the bright cheerful colours and it sounds like the kind of one pot that I love .
Corina Blum
Thanks Janice! I'm so pleased you like it.
Louise Fairweather
This sounds lovely. I do love a good one pot recipe and I would love to visit Mauritius too! #cookblogshare
Corina Blum
I'm so pleased you like it Louise! Yes, a holiday to Mauritius would be amazing. One day...
Strength and Sunshine
What a great chicken dish!!!
Corina
Thank you.
Lea Ann
I adore curries and made a good one last night. Always collecting new ideas. Thanks for this and I'll look for that curry.
Corina
Nothing beats a good curry!