Chicken Tagine With Couscous Recipes

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE

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.

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• To prepare the tagine:
• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• 2. Place a tagine or heavy-bottom cast-iron pot over medium-heat heat with the olive oil. Season the chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Working in batches, sear the chicken in the pot until deep golden brown on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes total. Reserve seared chicken on a plate.
• 3. Add the onions to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger to the pot and continue cooking, until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add the stock, cumin, and saffron to the pot, and bring the liquid to a boil. Return the chicken to the pot along with any juices that accumulated while it rested.
• 4. Cover the tagine or pot with a tight-fitting lid and bake until the chicken has cooked through, about 15 minutes (or, the chicken can be simmered over medium-low heat on the stovetop for the same amount of time until cooked through).
• 5. When the chicken has cooked through, add the olives, parsley, and lemons to the pot. Reserve warm over low heat until ready to serve.
• To prepare the couscous:
• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place dry couscous on a sheet pan and toast until pale golden brown and aromatic, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
• 2. In a medium pot over high heat, bring the chicken stock, cinnamon, turmeric, and red pepper to a boil. Add the couscous, stir to combine, and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Remove the pot from the heat and let rest for 10 minutes.
• 3. Fluff the couscous with a fork. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick. Serve warm with the prepared tagine.

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH PINE-NUT COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 6- to 8-qt. heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
• Add half chicken, skin side down, and cook until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn over and cook 3 minutes more.
• Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining chicken and set aside.
• Drain all but 2 T. oil from pot and reduce heat to medium.
• Add onion and sauté until golden, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add garlic and ginger and cook stirring constantly, for 3 minutes.
• Add cinnamon, turmeric, coriander, black pepper, cardamom pods, chilies, and salt and stir to combine.
• Return chicken to pot and add apricots, prunes, 2 cup chicken broth, and parsley sprigs. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 40 minutes.
• Take pot off heat and remove parsley sprigs and chilies.
• Remove skin from chicken.
• In a covered medium saucepan, bring remaining 2 cups chicken broth to a boil. Turn off heat, stir in couscous, cover, and let sit 5 minutes.
• Uncover pan and fluff couscous with a fork.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons minced parsley, pine nuts, and lemon zest and toss to combine. Mound couscous on a platter. Top with chicken thighs and pour sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons parsley.