Sunday Lunch Week 47: Stewed Chicken, Curried Baigan & Aloo, and Paratha

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

(Sunday, November 23, 2025 — The Sunday Before Thanksgiving)

There is a certain hush that settles over the house the Sunday before Thanksgiving—an unmistakable mix of anticipation, quiet gratitude, and the steady hum of preparation. Week 47 carried all of that energy. My mom was here for the week, and her presence shifted the rhythm of the house in the most comforting way. We moved gently between tasks—cleaning, organizing, putting up the final pieces of furniture, and readying the guest rooms for the family who would soon fill them. It felt like the home was stretching awake, preparing itself for the biggest meal of the year.

With so much happening in the background, Sunday lunch needed to be easy, grounding, and familiar. I had chicken legs thawing in the fridge and an eggplant that was nearing the end of its life. And to be honest, I was still thinking about that curried eggplant from over the summer—its soft, silky texture and mellow spice—so the craving practically decided the menu for me. Stewed chicken, curried baigan and aloo, and paratha. Simple. No fuss. And something my mom would enjoy, especially the paratha—her favorite thing that I make.

After breakfast, I seasoned the chicken, set it to stew whole in the traditional way, and started the baigan and aloo. Before heading to the farmers market, I left it simmering under my mom’s watchful eye. She has that instinctive understanding of stovetop food—when to lower the heat, when to stir, when to simply leave it alone—so I knew it was in the best hands.

The farmers market was cold—bitter, finger-numbing cold—and the moment I stepped out of the car, I knew outdoor cooking season was officially over until next summer. I made my usual rounds but stopped in my tracks when I learned there were no pumpkin pies at the bakery stall. My daughter, who was coming home from college for Thanksgiving, had specifically requested that very pie. So I drove thirty minutes to the bakery’s main location to secure what was one of the last few pies available. A mother’s mission accomplished.

By the time I got home, the baigan and aloo were perfect—creamy, deeply flavored, cooked just the way I hoped. I made the paratha while catching up with Mommy, rolling and oiling the layers as we chatted about old times. Lunch was simple but nourishing, the kind of food that reminds you that everyday meals can feel like comfort and home even during the busiest week of the year.

We had someone in the house doing the final paint touch-ups and repairs, and because lunch wasn’t ready on time, I shared some stewed chicken with pasta and sauce I had cooked the day before. The day moved along gently but quickly, and before I knew it, evening had arrived. I didn’t film the full process, but I do have a reel of the prep coming soon—once I catch up with the whirlwind of content and Thanksgiving chaos.

This quiet Sunday was the pause before the storm. I knew the next four days would be intense—seasoning turkeys, chopping aromatics, organizing the fridge, and preparing for the biggest meal of the year. But for this one afternoon, simplicity was enough. Good food, my mom by my side, and a warm kitchen on a cold New York day.

Recipes Mentioned in This Post

Here are the recipes referenced throughout today’s Sunday Lunch. You can explore them below:

• Stewed Chicken
  A classic Trinidad stewed chicken made the traditional way with caramelized sugar, aromatics, and richly seasoned chicken pieces.
• Curried Baigan and Aloo
  Soft, silky eggplant cooked with tender potatoes in a simple curry—easy, comforting, and perfect with roti.
• Paratha (Buss-Up-Shut) or Oil Roti / Clap Roti
  Flaky, buttery Trinidad paratha that pairs beautifully with curries and stews. One of Mommy’s favorites! Perfect with dhalpuri as well! You decide!

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💬 Questions, Concerns, or Recipe Requests — Write Me!

If you have any questions about this week’s Sunday Lunch or a dish you’d love to see next, leave a comment below or email me at [email protected]. And when you share your photos, tag me @cookingwithria on Instagram or @trinicookingwithria on Facebook — I always love celebrating your beautiful creations!

More Sunday Lunches to Explore

If you’re new to my 52 Weeks of Sunday Lunch series, welcome.
Each Sunday, I cook a completely different meal—no repeats for the entire year—and document the menu, the story behind it, and the rhythm of real Caribbean home cooking. It’s my way of preserving tradition, embracing creativity, and showing that Sunday lunch can be comforting, spontaneous, or even shaped by whatever life throws our way.

🌿 52 Weeks of Sunday Lunch (Full Index)

See every menu, story, and reflection in the series — from Week 1 straight through to the latest post:
👉 View the full 52 Weeks of Sunday Lunch series →

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