Jamaican Curry Chicken and Potatoes

Place chicken in a large bowl. Season chicken with the garlic powder, salt (depending on taste) and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, making sure the chicken is evenly coated. Let sit to come to room temperature.

Heat a deep Dutch oven or heavy pan over medium heat. Drizzle in the olive oil. Add sliced onions, season with salt and pepper. Using a wooden spoon, stir to combine, and cook until soft and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, stirring to keep the garlic from scorching, and cook for 30 seconds or until tender. Using a pair of tongs or a spoon, remove onions and garlic from the pan; set aside in a bowl.

If needed, add more oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the room-temperature chicken to the pan, and sear chicken on both sides, in batches if necessary, until golden brown, about 7 to 8 minutes total.

Sprinkle curry powder over and around chicken. Let the spices bloom and toast until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Add reserved onions and garlic to the pan. Add chipotle peppers and potatoes, and stir to evenly coat chicken and potatoes in spices.

Pour in chicken stock to nearly cover the chicken. Add the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Taste and adjust the curry powder, salt and pepper as needed.

In a small bowl, combine cornstarch with 1/4 cup water to form a slurry. Stir slurry in, about 1 tablespoon a time and bring back to a boil, adding more until desired thickness is reached. Retrieve bay leaf and thyme stems and discard.