African Style Chicken and Squash Curry

I have had mixed results with adding peanuts to African inspired dishes.  This one thankfully worked out.  You could switch the peanuts to almonds or cashews if you desire.  I used butternut squash here but the recipe also can be used for pumpkin (or any squash you prefer).

12 skinless bone in chicken thighs or 6 breasts
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cinnamon sticks, each about 3 inches long
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp whole cloves
2 large onions, chopped
2 tbsp minced ginger root
2 tbsp curry powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes
salt
3 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts, finely chopped
1 large pie pumpkin or butternut squash peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks, about 6 cups
juice of 1 lime

1. Trim any excess fat from chicken.  If using breasts, cut each in half crosswise to make pieces similar in size to thighs.  Set aside
2. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat until hot but not smoking.  Add cinnamon, mustard seeds and cloves and saute for 1 minute or until toasted and fragrant.  Add onions and saute for about 7 minutes until starting brown.  Add ginger, curry powder, thyme, hot pepper flakes and 1/2 tsp salt and saute for 2 minutes.  
3. Add chicken and stir to coat with spices.  Add stock and 1/3 cup of the peanuts; bring to a simmer, scraping up bits stuck to pot.  Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes
4. Stir in pumpkin, cover and simmer, stirring and turning chicken pieces occasionally, for about 30 minutes or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced and pumpkin is tender.  Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken and pumpkin to a warmed serving dish and keep warm, leaving about 10 pieces of pumpkin in the sauce.
5. Increase heat to high and boil sauce, stirring often and mashing pumpkin to add body, for about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Discard cloves and cinnamon sticks, if desired.  Stir in lime juice and season to taste with salt.  Pour sauce over chicken and pumpkin and sprinkle with remaining peanuts.

Serves 6