Tantalize your taste buds with a culinary journey to Morocco with this enticing chicken tagine recipe. This traditional dish, brimming with succulent chicken, caramelized onions, sweet prunes, juicy tomatoes, and a symphony of aromatic spices, promises an explosion of flavors that will transport you to the vibrant souks of Marrakech.
Embark on a culinary adventure with two variations of this delectable tagine. The classic version showcases tender chicken thighs braised in a rich tomato sauce, while the second variation introduces a delightful twist with the addition of dried apricots, offering a perfect balance of sweet and savory notes. Both tagines are adorned with plump prunes, adding a touch of fruity sweetness, and garnished with fresh cilantro, providing a burst of freshness to complement the warm spices.
MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE
Chicken tagine is a traditional Moroccan dish of chicken pieces braised with spices, garlic, onion, olives, and preserved lemons. It's company-worthy yet easy to throw together.
Provided by Jennifer Segal
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Combine the spices in a small bowl and set aside. Zest the lemon. Combine 1 teaspoon of the lemon zest with 1 minced garlic clove; set aside.
- Season both sides of chicken pieces with 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or pan over medium-high heat until beginning to smoke. Brown the chicken pieces skin side down in single layer until deep golden, about 5 minutes; using tongs, flip the chicken pieces over and brown the other side, about 4 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a large plate; when cool enough to handle, peel off the skin and discard. Pour off and discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until they have browned at the edges but still retain their shape, 5 to 7 minutes (add a few tablespoons of water now and then if the pan gets too dark). Add the remaining minced garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the spices and flour and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broth, honey, remaining lemon zest, and ¼ teaspoon salt, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the chicken (with any accumulated juices) back in, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the carrots, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the carrots are tender-crisp, about 10 minutes more.
- Stir in the olives, reserved lemon zest-garlic mixture, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice; taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if desired. Serve with couscous.
- Note: Don't fret too much over trimming the chicken thighs. The skin gets removed midway through the cooking process and most of the fat will cook off and get drained. I usually just take kitchen shears and quickly snip off any excess skin or fat. Cracked green olives are olives that have been 'cracked' or split open before curing, allowing the brine or marinade to penetrate. You can find them in your supermarket's olive bar, or substitute any green olive that you like.
- Make-Ahead: After you have completed the step of cooking the carrots, the dish can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. To serve, gently warm on the stove until the chicken is heated through, then proceed to the step where the olives and remaining ingredients are added.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 chicken thigh, Calories 367, Fat 13 g, Carbohydrate 14 g, Protein 47 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sugar 7 g, Fiber 2 g, Sodium 794 mg, Cholesterol 215 mg
CHICKEN TAGINE WITH PRUNES AND OLIVES
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories dinner, weekday, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Dry chicken and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large, heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, to very hot. Add chicken (in batches if necessary) skin side down, and sear until skin is golden brown. Remove chicken when browned (do not turn it) and set aside.
- Discard all but a thin film of fat from the pan. Add onion and garlic and sauté on low until soft. Stir in paprika and cumin, cook about a minute and then add prunes, olives, stock and butter. Cook, stirring, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer contents of pan to a 12- to 14-inch tagine, sauté pan or casserole. Place chicken on top, skin side up.
- Cover and cook on medium-low heat about 40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately or set aside to be reheated. To serve, scatter lemon zest and mint over the chicken, squeeze juice of the lemon on top and bring tagine to the table covered.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 690, UnsaturatedFat 29 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 46 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 44 grams, SaturatedFat 13 grams, Sodium 855 milligrams, Sugar 13 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CHICKEN TAGINE
Chicken tagine is a classic Moroccan dish made in a special pot called a tagine and usually features preserved lemons and olives. This recipe uses lots of the warm spices and harissa that are authentic to Morocco, but it is cooked in a skillet. The substitution of fresh lemons makes this practical for a weeknight without a trip to the market or online.
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the oil to a large pan and heat over medium-high. When the oil is hot, add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook until the skins are brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate.
- Add the onions, garlic, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, ginger and turmeric and cook just until the onions start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the lemon slices, lemon juice, harissa, chicken broth and olives, then stir to combine. Nestle the chicken back into the pan, skin-side up.
- Place in the oven, uncovered, and cook until the chicken is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Season to taste. Scatter the cilantro and almonds over the top. Serve over the couscous.
CHICKEN WITH TOMATOES AND PRUNES
Provided by Diane Kochilas
Categories Chicken Tomato Quick & Easy Prune White Wine Summer Cinnamon Simmer
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet or a wide heavy pot over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken in 2 batches, turning with tongs, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer chicken as browned to a plate.
- Return chicken, skin sides up, to skillet along with any juices accumulated on plate. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Add water, tomatoes, cinnamon stick, remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, and a large pinch of pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to moderately low and cover skillet, then simmer 20 minutes.
- Stir in prunes, vinegar, and sugar and simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken with tongs to a shallow serving dish and keep warm, covered with foil. Boil pan juices, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, 8 to 10 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and spoon sauce over chicken.
MOROCCAN TAGINE OF CHICKEN WITH PRUNES, APRICOTS, AND ALMONDS
In the heart of Dijon, at the Municipal Museum, right next door to the majestic stone kitchen of the dukes of Burgundy, Alette Lévy checks coats. Once the owner of Dijon's only kosher butcher shop, she talks food between customers, such as this chicken-tagine recipe she makes for her French friends. The trick to this recipe is to put the almonds in the microwave for 3 minutes, to make them crackly. This way you don't run the risk of burning them, the way I always seem to do when I forget them in the oven or frying pan. Alette told me you can substitute lamb for the chicken.
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or other large, heavy frying pan with a cover. Add the onions, and sauté slowly until golden. While the onions are cooking, season the chicken pieces well with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Push aside the onions and tuck the chicken pieces into the pan. Brown them well on all sides.
- Add the prunes, raisins, and apricots to the chicken pieces, along with the saffron, cumin, and paprika, and a cup of water. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for about 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and most of the liquid has evaporated. (Add more water if necessary.)
- Just before serving, toast the almonds in the microwave for 3 minutes, and sprinkle them over the chicken. Serve with saffron rice (see page 278).
Tips:
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for a more flavorful tagine.
- Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs before browning them.
- Brown the chicken thighs in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until they are golden brown on all sides.
- Add the onions, garlic, ginger, and spices to the pot and cook until the onions are softened.
- Stir in the tomatoes, prunes, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve the tagine over couscous or rice.
Conclusion:
Chicken tagine with prunes and tomatoes is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The combination of sweet prunes, tangy tomatoes, and savory spices creates a flavorful and aromatic dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. Serve it over couscous or rice for a complete meal.
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