Moroccan Braised Chicken Recipes

MOROCCAN BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large (5-quart) heavy pot, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Season chicken generously on all sides with salt and pepper. Place 3 chicken legs in pot; cook, turning once, until browned, about 10 minutes total. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining chicken and oil.
• Add onion and 1/4 cup water to pot; cook, stirring to loosen browned bits on bottom. Add turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion has softened, about 5 minutes. Return chicken to pot. Add 2 cups water and half the prunes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; partially cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through and very tender, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a platter; cover tightly with aluminum foil to keep warm. Add remaining prunes to pot; raise heat to high. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes more. If not serving immediately, top chicken with sauce, cover and refrigerate up to 1 day in an airtight container. Otherwise, divide chicken among serving plates, and top with sauce.

MOROCCAN BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the apricots and the boiling water, let stand 10 minutes. Strain the apricots, reserving the the water, then dice the apricots. Set aside both the water and apricots until needed.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat, add the chicken and saute for 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
• Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook 7 minutes, then add the celery and cook for 3 more minutes.
• Stir in the apricots and the reserved liquid, the chickpeas, tomatoes, lemon zest, lemon juice, coriander and pepper.
• Bring to a boil and return the chicken to the pan, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Stir in the cilantro and serve.

BRAISED MOROCCAN CHICKEN (D'JEJ MHAMAR)

Steps:

• Soak vermicelli noodles in hot water until softened, about 15 minutes. Drain and add raisins, 1 tablespoon cilantro, 1 clove grated garlic, 1 teaspoon chopped preserved lemon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1 dash turmeric, salt, and pepper.
• Clean the chicken, keeping the skin intact. Stuff with the prepared vermicelli. Tie legs closed with kitchen string. Remove seeds from preserved lemon and cut into 2 or 3 pieces.
• Heat oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add grated onion, preserved lemon, remaining 3 tablespoons cilantro, remaining 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, remaining 1/2 teaspoon ginger, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric. Stir together over medium heat. Add chicken and fry, being sure it doesn't stick and break the skin, about 2 minutes on each side.
• Add enough water that the chicken is about half immersed. Add saffron. Cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center, 30 to 40 minutes, checking water level occasionally. Add olives about 15 minutes before the chicken is finished. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove the chicken to a plate and reduce the sauce until it is thick, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Pat the chicken dry and remove kitchen string; place in a baking dish. Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Broil chicken in the preheated oven, turning as needed, until skin is darkened and crisp, about 5 minutes total.
• Spread the sauce on a platter and place chicken on top.

MOROCCAN BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and flour. Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add half of chicken pieces to pot and cook until browned on all sides, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to baking sheet or platter; repeat with remaining chicken. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from pot and discard. Reduce heat to medium. Add shallots to pot; sauté until golden, about 6 minutes. Add cinnamon sticks, ginger, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Increase heat to high; add broth and 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Bring to boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until shallots begin to soften, about 18 minutes. Place chicken pieces atop shallots in pot. Bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until juices run clear when thickest part of drumstick is pierced with knife, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer chicken and shallots to platter; tent with foil. Boil juices in pot until slightly thickened. Stir in dates and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Reduce heat and simmer gently until dates are heated through, about 2 minutes. Pour sauce and dates over chicken. Sprinkle with almonds and cilantro, and serve.
• Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Braised-Chicken-with-Dates-and-Moroccan-Spices-361592#ixzz2VZfnym7Z.

MOROCCAN APRICOT CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add almonds; cook and stir until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. In the same skillet, brown chicken on both sides. Remove from heat. Transfer chicken to a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. Stir chili sauce, preserves, apricots, Moroccan seasoning, vanilla and garlic powder into drippings. Pour over chicken., Cook, covered, on low until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175°, 4 to 4-1/2 hours. Stir in garbanzo beans and orange juice. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, 15-30 minutes longer. Serve with almonds. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH DATES AND MOROCCAN SPICES

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and flour. Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add half of chicken pieces to pot and cook until browned on all sides, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to baking sheet or platter; repeat with remaining chicken. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from pot and discard. Reduce heat to medium. Add shallots to pot; sauté until golden, about 6 minutes. Add cinnamon sticks, ginger, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Increase heat to high; add broth and 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Bring to boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until shallots begin to soften, about 18 minutes. Place chicken pieces atop shallots in pot. Bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until juices run clear when thickest part of drumstick is pierced with knife, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer chicken and shallots to platter; tent with foil. Boil juices in pot until slightly thickened. Stir in dates and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Reduce heat and simmer gently until dates are heated through, about 2 minutes. Pour sauce and dates over chicken. Sprinkle with almonds and cilantro, and serve.

MOROCCAN BRAISED CHICKEN WITH CARROTS AND GOLDEN RAISINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat a large ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Toast spices about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl. Add oil to pan and heat. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Cook until golden, about 6 minutes; set aside. Reduce heat to medium and saute onion. Add wine, scraping up brown bits with wooden spoon. Add carrots, stock, raisins, chicken and accumulated juices, and spices; bring to a boil. Cover and transfer to oven. Braise until meat is very tender, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring quinoa, 2 cups water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Sprinkle chicken with cilantro and serve with quinoa.