Best 3 Instant Pot Chicken Tagine With Butternut Squash And Spinach Recipes

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Indulge in the tantalizing flavors of North African cuisine with this collection of Instant Pot chicken tagine recipes. Embark on a culinary journey to Morocco with our authentic chicken tagine featuring succulent chicken pieces braised in a flavorful broth infused with aromatic spices, dried fruits, and tender vegetables. Experience a delightful twist with our butternut squash and spinach tagine, where the sweetness of butternut squash harmonizes perfectly with the earthy notes of spinach, creating a vibrant and nutritious dish. For a vegetarian option, our vegetable tagine bursts with a symphony of colors and textures, showcasing the goodness of fresh vegetables simmered in a rich and flavorful sauce. Each recipe is carefully crafted to deliver the authentic taste of Morocco, offering a delightful balance of spices, sweet and savory notes, and a hint of zesty citrus. Prepare to be captivated by the vibrant flavors and aromas that will transport you to the bustling streets of Marrakech with every bite.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH & CHICKPEA TAGINE



Butternut squash & chickpea tagine image

Make this tasty vegetarian tagine that kids will love as much as grown-ups. It's a great way to serve four of their five-a-day and it's freezeable

Provided by Caroline Hire - Food writer

Categories     Dinner

Time 30m

Yield Serves 2 adults + 2 children

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 tbsp oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp grated ginger
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp mild chilli powder
500g bag frozen butternut squash chunks
2 carrots, cut into small dice
1 courgette, cut into small dice
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
1 x 400g can chickpeas, drained
cooked couscous or rice, to serve

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan, then slowly cook the onions for around 10 mins until starting to caramelise. Stir in the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for a further 2 mins. Add the vegetables and canned tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Put the lid on and simmer for around 15 mins or until all the veg are tender. Stir in the chickpeas, heat through and serve with couscous or rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 232 calories, Fat 5 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 32 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 17 grams sugar, Fiber 10 grams fiber, Protein 9 grams protein, Sodium 0.1 milligram of sodium

PRESSURE COOKER CHICKEN TAGINE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH



Pressure Cooker Chicken Tagine With Butternut Squash image

This warmly spiced stew is inspired by a Moroccan tagine. The word tagine describes both the clay pot traditionally used to cook the dish and the dish itself. This simplified version combines chicken with dates, which mostly disappear into the stew, imparting a honeyed sweetness. Butternut squash wedges steam on top as the chicken cooks, then get stirred in at the end, thickening the sauce. Find a slow-cooker version of this recipe here.

Provided by Sarah DiGregorio

Categories     dinner, soups and stews, main course

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 5 servings

Number Of Ingredients 25

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large red onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt
1 (4-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 1/4 cup)
6 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
3/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon), plus more to taste
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
8 dates, such as Medjool, pitted and halved
1 (2- to 2 1/2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 1-by-3-inch wedges
1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped
4 scallions, thinly sliced
Cooked couscous or pita for serving (optional)
Plain yogurt, for topping (optional)
Toasted almonds, for topping (optional)

Steps:

  • Using the sauté setting, warm the oil in the pot of a 6- to 8-quart pressure cooker. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the fresh ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant and softened, about 2 minutes. Add the cinnamon stick, sweet paprika, turmeric, cumin, smoked paprika, ground ginger, cayenne and cloves. Season generously with black pepper. Stir well.
  • Add the tomato paste and stir until fully combined, fragrant and brick-red in color, about 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and lemon juice, scraping any browned bits that have collected at the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat. Add the chicken and the dates and stir to combine. Place the butternut squash wedges on top and season them generously with salt and pepper. Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 16 minutes.
  • Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release remaining pressure manually. Open the lid, add the parsley and scallions and gently fold everything together. (The butternut squash will fall apart slightly to thicken the sauce.) Taste and add lemon juice and salt, if necessary. Serve with couscous or pita and top with yogurt and toasted almonds, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 520, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 62 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 41 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1301 milligrams, Sugar 33 grams, TransFat 0 grams

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TAGINE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH



Slow Cooker Chicken Tagine With Butternut Squash image

Inspired by Moroccan tagines, which often pair sweet dried fruit with savory elements, this dish has deep layers of contrasting flavors: warmth and sweetness against acidity and spice. Taking the time to brown chicken skin, sauté onion and toast spices is definitely worth the 20-minute investment here, lending this stew a rich flavor. But if you're really pressed for time, you can skip it. Instead, layer the squash, dates, onion and chicken in the slow cooker, and season everything generously with salt and pepper. Whisk together the oil, ginger, garlic, spices and lemon juice, and pour it on top before cooking. Then finish the dish the same way the recipe directs: Season to taste with lemon and salt and finish with the parsley and scallions.

Provided by Sarah DiGregorio

Categories     dinner, weekday, tagine, main course

Time 2h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 22

1 medium-small (2 to 2 1/2 pound) butternut squash, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 3-inch-by-1-inch wedges
8 pitted dates, such as Medjool, halved
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 (1-inch) cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 1/2 to 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 8 thighs)
1 large red onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup minced ginger (from about a 4-inch piece peeled ginger)
6 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 cup lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon), plus more to taste
Leaves of 1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped
4 scallions, thinly sliced
Cooked couscous or pita for serving (optional)
Plain yogurt, for topping (optional)
Toasted almonds, for topping (optional)

Steps:

  • Put the squash and dates into a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Season generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon stick, sweet paprika, turmeric, cumin, hot smoked paprika, ground ginger, cloves and cayenne and set aside.
  • Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the chicken dry and season it generously with salt. Working in two batches, put the chicken in the skillet skin side down and cook without moving it until the skin is deeply golden, crisp, and releases fairly easily from the bottom of the pan, about 5 to 8 minutes per batch. (You need to brown only the skin side.) Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker, nestling the thighs skin side up and in one crowded layer on top of the squash.
  • Decrease the stovetop heat to medium. If there is a lot of rendered fat in the pan, pour off all but a thin layer to cover the entire bottom of the skillet. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring to scrape up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the reserved spices and stir well for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is a uniform brick red. Add the lemon juice, stir well to incorporate the browned bits, then scrape the mixture over the top of the chicken, making sure to include any spice-stained oil that remains.
  • Cook on low until the squash and chicken are very tender and the flavors are mellow, at least 4 hours and up to 6 hours. If it's more convenient, you can let the slow cooker switch to warm after 6 hours. The dish will hold on warm for another 2 hours before the chicken starts to dry out. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick. Add lemon juice and salt to taste and fold in the chopped parsley and scallions. Serve with couscous or pita, topped with yogurt and toasted almonds, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 644, UnsaturatedFat 25 grams, Carbohydrate 43 grams, Fat 38 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 36 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 876 milligrams, Sugar 25 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

  • Use a quality cut of chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts are both good choices.
  • Don't overcrowd the pot. If you're using a 6-quart Instant Pot, don't add more than 2 pounds of chicken.
  • Sauté the chicken and vegetables before cooking. This will help to brown the chicken and vegetables and develop flavor.
  • Use a flavorful broth. Chicken broth or vegetable broth are both good choices.
  • Add spices and seasonings to taste. Common spices used in chicken tagine include cumin, coriander, ginger, and paprika.
  • Cook the tagine on high pressure for 15 minutes. Once the cooking time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before carefully opening the lid.
  • Serve the tagine over rice or couscous. Garnish with fresh herbs, such as cilantro or parsley.

Conclusion:

Chicken tagine with butternut squash and spinach is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The Instant Pot makes it easy to cook the tagine quickly and easily, and the result is a flavorful and satisfying dish that the whole family will enjoy.

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