Embark on a culinary journey to Morocco with this tantalizing Chicken Tagine with Dried Fruits recipe. This delectable dish combines the vibrant flavors of succulent chicken, aromatic spices, and a medley of dried fruits into a hearty and flavorful masterpiece. Indulge in the sweet and savory notes of apricots, raisins, prunes, and almonds, complemented by the warmth of ginger, cumin, and saffron.
Discover a treasure trove of additional tagine recipes within this article, each offering a unique exploration of Moroccan cuisine. From the zesty preserved lemon chicken tagine to the hearty lamb and prune tagine, these recipes cater to a diverse range of palates. Vegetarian enthusiasts will delight in the vibrant vegetable tagine, while seafood lovers can savor the exquisite fish tagine.
Unravel the secrets of preparing the perfect tagine, with expert tips on selecting the finest ingredients, mastering the art of layering flavors, and achieving the ideal balance of spices. Learn how to create a flavorful broth, tenderize the chicken, and transform ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary feast.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Morocco, where the tagine reigns supreme. This article provides a comprehensive guide to experiencing the authentic flavors of this beloved dish, whether you're cooking at home or seeking out the best tagines in Moroccan restaurants.
MOROCCAN CHICKEN AND APRICOT TAGINE
Steps:
- Gather the chicken ingredients.
- Combine the spices in a bowl large enough to hold the chicken.
- Add the chicken and toss to evenly coat the pieces with the spices.
- Gather the remaining tagine ingredients.
- Over medium-low heat, melt the butter in the base of a large tagine or Dutch oven.
- Add the olive oil, onions, garlic, and cinnamon stick .
- Add the seasoned chicken, meat-side down, in a single layer on top of the onions.
- Place the cilantro bouquet on top. Add the broth to the tagine.
- In the bowl used to season the chicken, swirl the water to cleanse it of the spices.
- Add the water to the tagine.
- Cover and leave the liquids to reach a simmer over medium-low heat.
- Once simmering , cook the chicken, undisturbed, for 1 hour.
- Remove 1/2 cup of the cooking liquids and set aside.
- Carefully turn over the chicken pieces so that they are meat-side up.
- Cover the pan and continue simmering for another 30 minutes to 1 hour, until the chicken is done and the liquids are thick and reduced.
- While the chicken is cooking, put the apricots in a small pot and cover with water.
- Simmer the apricots over medium heat, partially covered, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender enough to pinch in half with your fingers.
- Drain the apricots and return to the pot.
- Add the sugar (or honey), ground cinnamon, and the 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid.
- Simmer the apricots gently for 5 to 10 minutes, or until they are sitting in a thick syrup.
- Discard the cilantro bouquet and cinnamon stick from the tagine.
- Arrange the chicken on a large serving platter (or simply leave in the base of the tagine). Spoon the apricots and syrup on and around the chicken. If desired, garnish with fried almonds or sesame seeds.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 688 kcal, Carbohydrate 38 g, Cholesterol 175 mg, Fiber 4 g, Protein 48 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, Sodium 698 mg, Sugar 29 g, Fat 39 g, ServingSize Serves 4, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
DANIEL BOULUD'S CHICKEN TAGINE
This recipe for an elegant North African stew comes out of the kitchen of Boulud Sud, Daniel Boulud's sophisticated Mediterranean French restaurant in New York. It is a dish steeped in the flavors of North Africa, but also of France. Chicken serves as the protein, bathed in a blend of North African spices - cinnamon and coriander, turmeric, ginger powder and cardamom - combined with tomatoes, saffron and a little stock. Preserved lemons and olives added at the end provide bite. Tagines are often cooked with root vegetables and dried fruits. Boulud, who famously grew up on a farm, in Lyon, uses cauliflower. ''It is maybe a little more French approach to the tagine,'' he said. Blanching the cauliflower and tomatoes before cooking them may cause some cooks to blanch themselves. But the effort is worth it.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories dinner, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Combine the spices in a dry sauté pan set over low heat, and toast them gently until they release their fragrance, 2 minutes or so. Transfer to a bowl, and allow to cool.
- Preheat oven to 350. Season the chicken thighs with the salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of the spice mix, along with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat, and set a large bowl of ice water to the side. Core the tomatoes, and score an X on their bottoms. Boil the cauliflower florets in the water for 3 minutes, then submerge them in the ice water. Boil the tomatoes for 20 seconds, and chill them in the ice water as well. Remove the cauliflower when it is cold, and pat the florets dry. Peel the skin off the tomatoes, then cut them into quarters lengthwise. Trim away the seeds to make petals.
- Heat the remaining olive oil in a large sauté pan set over medium heat, and sear the chicken in batches, starting skin-side down, until the thighs are browned. Remove the chicken to a large Dutch oven or tagine pot. Remove all but two tablespoons of the fat in pan, then return it to the heat, and brown the cauliflower and add to the chicken.
- Reduce heat below the pan, and add the onion, garlic, ginger and saffron. Cook, stirring, until the onions are translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and chicken stock, and simmer until reduced by 1/3.
- Pour sauce over the chicken and cauliflower, cover the pot and transfer to oven for 20 minutes. Remove, stir in the tomatoes, preserved lemon and olives, then cover the pot again and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve the chicken in the pot, garnished with the cilantro leaves, with couscous. Reserve remaining spice mix for the next batch or another use. It keeps well in a sealed container.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1036, UnsaturatedFat 52 grams, Carbohydrate 35 grams, Fat 76 grams, Fiber 12 grams, Protein 59 grams, SaturatedFat 18 grams, Sodium 1695 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams
MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE
Sweet and savory stewed chicken with dried fruits and exotic spices. Serve this on top of couscous and top with toasted almonds and fresh cilantro. Children love the familiarity of the 'sweet' spices and dried fruits.
Provided by Chef Kelly
Categories World Cuisine Recipes African North African Moroccan
Time 2h6m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Mix cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, coriander, ginger, mint, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Measure out 1/2 cup spice mix and set the remaining aside for another use.
- Bring a small pot of water to a boil; add apricots and raisins. Cook until fruit is soft, about 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking water.
- Pour enough olive oil into a large skillet or Dutch oven to coat the bottom; turn heat to medium. Coat chicken with the 1/2 cup spice mix and place in the hot oil; cook until golden brown and releases easily from the skillet, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Mix onion and garlic into skillet with chicken; cook and stir until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add apricots, raisins, reserved 1/2 cup water from fruit, chicken broth, and honey; reduce heat to low and cover. Cook until chicken is very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Serve chicken garnished with cilantro and almonds.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 370.8 calories, Carbohydrate 35.8 g, Cholesterol 43.5 mg, Fat 20.4 g, Fiber 6.7 g, Protein 15.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 1375.1 mg, Sugar 22.3 g
CHICKEN TAGINE WITH OLIVES AND APRICOTS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 2h20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Sprinkle the chicken all over with 2 teaspoons salt. Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
- Meanwhile, thinly slice 1 lemon; spread out the slices and sprinkle generously with salt on both sides. Stack the slices on a plate and let stand at room temperature, at least 20 minutes and up to 3 hours.
- Pat the chicken dry. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil shimmers, add half of the chicken, skin-side down; cover and cook until the skin is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Discard the excess oil.
- Add the butter, onion, garlic, ginger, coriander, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, saffron and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to the pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes; stir in the cilantro and parsley. Push the onion mixture to one side, then add the chicken to the pot, skin-side up. Spoon some of the onion mixture over the chicken and add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low; cover and gently simmer, 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the apricots, 1 cup water and the honey in a medium saucepan over medium heat; cover and cook until the apricots are plump, about 15 minutes. Uncover and cook until the liquid is syrupy, about 15 more minutes; set aside. Cook the almonds in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Set aside on paper towels.
- Chop the salted lemon slices into small pieces; add to the pot with the chicken along with the olives and the juice of the remaining lemon. Cover and continue cooking until the chicken is tender, about 20 more minutes. Arrange the chicken on a platter. Top with the olive sauce, apricot mixture and almonds. Serve with couscous.
CHICKEN TAGINE WITH APRICOTS AND ALMONDS
Steps:
- Stir together ground cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add chicken and turn to coat well.
- Heat butter and 1 tablespoon oil in base of tagine (or in skillet), uncovered, over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then brown half of chicken, skin sides down, turning over once, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Brown remaining chicken in same manner, adding any spice mixture left in bowl.
- Add onion and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to tagine and cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Tie cilantro and parsley into a bundle with kitchen string and add to tagine along with 1/2 cup water, chicken, and any juices accumulated on plate. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 30 minutes.
- While chicken cooks, bring honey, remaining cup water, cinnamon stick, and apricots to a boil in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until apricots are very tender (add more water if necessary). Once apricots are tender, simmer until liquid is reduced to a glaze, 10 to 15 minutes.
- While apricots cook, heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in a small skillet over moderate heat and cook almonds, stirring occasionally, until just golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
- Ten minutes before chicken is done, add apricot mixture to tagine. Discard herbs and cinnamon stick, then serve chicken sprinkled with almonds on top.
CHICKEN TAGINE WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES
I just bought a Moroccan tagine and had to try it out. After browsing online for recipes, I ventured to prepare something and ended up with my own recipe for chicken tagine with dried cranberries. You can also make this in a slow cooker, see the footnote below. It came out yummy! Enjoy over rice or couscous.
Provided by Milly Suazo-Martinez
Time 4h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Mix lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and pepper together in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat. Cover and let sit in a refrigerator for 2 hours, up to overnight.
- When ready to start, line a tagine with sliced carrots.
- Heat another 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat until hot, but not smoking. Brown 1/2 of the chicken pieces, skin-side down, turning over once, 5 to 7 minutes. You are just browning it, not cooking it through. Take out of the skillet and place on top of the carrots, then brown the remaining pieces of chicken. Once those are browned, but not cooked through, arrange on top of the carrots also. The idea is that the chicken does not touch the bottom of the tagine, only the carrots.
- Add onion to the same skillet and saute over medium-high heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic; saute for 30 seconds. Stir in potatoes and saute, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, bell pepper, cranberries, and parsley; stir well and keep sauteing over medium heat until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle the chicken bouillon granules over the mixture while it cooks.
- Pour the mixture over the chicken and carrots. Place the tagine over low heat, making sure any open flames do not touch the bottom of the pot. Drizzle remaining olive oil over top. Pour wine over top and cover.
- Cook over low heat until potatoes are soft and chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 1 hour. Turn off the heat and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 630.5 calories, Carbohydrate 40.6 g, Cholesterol 132.6 mg, Fat 30.3 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 47.2 g, SaturatedFat 5.8 g, Sodium 829.6 mg, Sugar 12.2 g
Tips:
- For a more flavorful tagine, use a combination of chicken thighs and drumsticks.
- Brown the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan and ensure even cooking.
- Use a variety of dried fruits for a more complex flavor profile. Apricots, raisins, and prunes are all good choices.
- Add a pinch of saffron to the tagine for a vibrant color and a distinctive flavor.
- Serve the tagine with couscous, rice, or flatbread.
Conclusion:
Chicken tagine with dried fruits is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The combination of chicken, dried fruits, and spices creates a flavorful and aromatic dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to cook chicken, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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