Charmoula Chicken Recipes

CHERMOULA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper and let rest while you prepare the sauce.
• Put parsley, cilantro, garlic, salt, cumin, coriander and cayenne (if using) into a food processor. Pulse several times to chop up the parsley and cilantro.
• With the motor running, add in the olive oil.
• Add lemon juice, process until you have a rough paste.
• Heat the ghee or olive oil on medium high heat in a large cast iron pan.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Pat the chicken pieces dry and add them to the pan skin side down. Let them cook until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Turn them over and cook a few minutes more.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and pour off the fat.
• Return the chicken to the pan and spread the chermoula sauce on both sides of the chicken. Save the rest of the sauce.
• Roast the chicken in the oven skin-side up, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the temperature near the bone is 165°F. If the breasts are done before the thighs remove them from the pan and cook the thighs until done.
• Serve with extra chermoula sauce on the side.

CHERMOULA

Steps:

• Coarsely chop the cilantro and parsley. A scissors is a good tool for this; point it tip down in the measuring cup and cut the leaves. Then place them in a food processor and chop very fine, or chop on a cutting board. You should have 1 cup finely chopped herbs.
• Place the garlic and salt in a mortar and puree. Add a small handful of the chopped herbs, and gently but firmly grind until the herbs begin to dissolve. Add another handful. When all of the herbs have been mashed, work in the spices, 1/3 cup olive oil and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more olive oil or salt if desired. Serve with grilled fish and/or vegetables, or with chicken.

MOROCCAN-STYLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place a large frying pan over medium heat with 1 tbsp of oil. Lightly season the chicken and cook, skin side down, for about 5 mins on one side, until golden. Turn over, then tip the onion into the pan. Cook for another 5 mins until the onion is soft and chicken golden all over.
• Meanwhile, halve the lemon, then cut 1 half into quarters. Finely chop 1 quarter (leaving the skin on) and tip into a pestle and mortar or small blender. Pound together with remaining oil, garlic, ginger and chermoula to make a paste. Dollop into the frying pan and cook 1 min more until you can smell the spices. Pour over the chicken or vegetable stock and honey, then bring to the boil.
• Turn down the heat, cover and leave to cook 20-30 mins until chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened and become glossy (you may need to uncover the pan for the fi nal 5 mins of cooking). Stir through the olives and squeeze over the juice of half the lemon. Sprinkle with coriander and serve with couscous or bread.

CHARMOULA CHICKEN

Steps:

• In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown chicken all over. Transfer to plate.
• Drain fat from pan; fry onion, garlic, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper and cinnamon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle flour over onion mixture; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour in stock and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits.
• Return chicken and any juices to skillet; reduce heat, cover and simmer, turning chicken once, until juices run clear when chicken is pierced, about 20 minutes.
• Add coriander, parsley and lemon juice.
• Make-ahead Option : Before adding the coriander, parsley, and lemon, let cool for 30 minutes; refrigerate until cold. Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 24 hours or freeze for up to 1 month.
• Slow Cooker Charmoula Chicken: Do not remove skin. After browning chicken, transfer to slow cooker. Continue with recipe, omitting flour and scraping stock mixture into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
• Skim off any fat. Whisk 1/3 cup (75 mL) water with 1/4 cup (50 mL) all-purpose flour and whisk into slow cooker; cover and cook on high for about 15 minutes or until thickened. Remove skin if desired. Stir in coriander, parsley and lemon.

CHICKEN CHERMOULA

Steps:

• Salsa:.
• Mix all ingredients in a bowl, seasoning to taste: chill.
• Chicken:.
• In a frying pan, gently fry onion and garlic in a little of the oil for 4 to 5 minutes. Do not allow the garlic to burn.
• When the onion is translucent, add all the spices and cook for 3 to 4 minutes over a medium heat. Stir constantly. Remove from the heat.
• Stir in the lemon rind and fresh herbs and allow to cool.
• Stir in the chicken pieces and marinate for at least 3 hours (over night if possible).
• Cook chicken in a non stick frying pan or on the BBQ (grill).

CHARMOULA

Steps:

• In a small, dry skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until seeds are slightly toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Immediately pour spices onto a cutting board or mortar to stop the cooking. Once cool, crack spices with the flat side of a knife or with a pestle.
• Place cumin seeds, coriander seeds, garlic and lemon juice in a food processor or blender, and pulse to combine. Add herbs and sweet paprika, and purée until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container when necessary. Add chile and, with the motor running, gradually drizzle in the olive oil. Stir in salt and preserved lemon, if using. Taste, and add more salt and lemon juice if needed.
• Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Use as a marinade or sauce for fish, chicken, vegetables or meat, or as a dressing for roasted peppers and eggplant salads. Mix into yogurt as a dip for vegetables and meatballs, or spoon over hard-cooked eggs.

WINE-POACHED CHICKEN WITH CHARMOULA

Steps:

• In a high-sided frying pan or braiser, combine the wine, cilantro, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer. Add the chicken and poach, turning once, about 12 to 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove to a cutting board to rest.
• Meanwhile, bring the stock to a boil. Add the couscous, stir, and bring to a second boil. Remove from the heat, cover, and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in the turmeric.
• Combine the charmoula ingredients in a small bowl. Cut the chicken breasts in half. Divide the couscous among 4 dinner plates and arrange chicken breasts on top. Serve each with 1/4 cup of the charmoula.