Country Captain chicken is a Southern classic featuring braised chicken in a curried tomato sauce with raisins and almonds. This unique, protein-rich chicken dish brings exotic flair to the family dinner table.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Season chicken thighs on both sides with 1 tsp kosher salt and 0.5 tsp black pepper, then dredge lightly in flour.
Heat vegetable oil in a large oven-safe Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, add chicken thighs in batches, browning for 2–3 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium. In the same pot, add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until vegetables are softened, scraping up browned bits.
Add garlic, curry powder, and paprika. Stir constantly for 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to let the spices burn.
Add diced tomatoes (with juice), chicken broth, raisins, and remaining salt/pepper. Return browned chicken to the pot, nestling pieces into sauce. Cover and transfer to oven. Braise at 350°F for 40 minutes.
Remove cover, sprinkle sliced almonds over chicken, and cook uncovered in oven for 10 minutes more until sauce thickens and chicken is tender.
Serve hot over cooked white rice, spooning sauce and garnished almonds over each serving.