I consider stock – vegetable, chicken or beef – essential to my kitchen. From Jollof Rice to Fried, stews and other sauces, it changes the game infusing it with rich flavour and essence.
When I was younger, I used stock that was the result of cooking meat which would accompany the meal. Over time, that changed because of time and the desire to explore. I didn’t have the time or energy to cook up a pot of meat just for the stock and also because I began to serve grilled, stir-fried meats, seafood and other proteins on the side.
But, still I wanted stock.
The first time, I came across Chicken backs was at Spar in Lagos. It was fresh and cost a ridiculous amount. I’m not sure any more if I saw it on the shelves and asked what it was for, if I saw someone buying it and asked or if I figured it out. All. By. Myself. In the end, that doesn’t really matter. What does is I got some and made a batch of regular amazing stock.
Since then, I’ve continued to use chicken backs for making stock. The benefits:
Price: It is CHEAP
Chicken backs, at between N200 and N400 / kg, compared with over N1000/ kg for whole or parts is cheap. Full stop. In my 1kg pack, I get 4 backs – which have both bone…and flesh.
Bones for stock
Bones bring flavour to stock that only flesh can’t. In Nigeria, our mode of making stock differs from Western cuisine in that we generally don’t roast the bones before cooking – but that’s covered in how to make stock. So yes, you get your bones, for very cheap and you’re home and away.
Some people leave the parson’s nose – aka the butt on, some cut it off – the choice lady and gent is yours.
And then, you also get some meat
So yes, you get the bones for your stock, but you also get bits of chicken which can go into sauces, sandwiches, stir fries and more. Yes, the quantity isn’t that much but it is a great gift from very little.
So, there you go – reasons to buy chicken backs and make homemade stock.
Thank me later.
I also want to make crispy chicken skin…so saved those too :). Win, win, win.
Resources:
Supermarkets/ stores: f you can’t find on the meat shelves, ask the butchers. You could also get their phone numbers and ask them to reserve for you on a particular day. Any how you want to do it, this is one option.
I’ve seen at Spar and Shoprite
Online: Evron stores sells and delivers chicken bones, fresh.
So there, you never have to run out of stock in your life, you can make it on the cheap.
xxx
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