Moroccan Chicken And Prune Tagine Recipes

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAJINE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the garlic, cumin, ginger, paprika, salt and pepper, 1/2 cup grated onion, and the oil.
• Rinse the preserved lemons, and remove the pulp. RESERVE the lemon peel for later use.
• Add the lemon pulp to the mixing bowl. Add the chicken. Mix everything together and place in a large plastic bag to marinate overnight in the refrigerator. (Twenty-four hours really gives the chicken the best flavor.)
• In a large Dutch oven or casserole, place the chicken and marinade; add the stems of the parsley and cilantro, the rest of the grated onion, the powdered saffron and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, turn down to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes.
• Remove the cover, stir the chicken and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes or until the chicken is tender.
• Remove the chicken to a serving dish and cover with foil to keep warm. Keep sauce on stove and begin to reduce.
• Slice the preserved lemon peel into thin slices and add to the sauce along with the olives, parsley and cilantro. Reduce until the sauce is just a little thick. This shouldn't take more than 5 minutes at most.
• Uncover the chicken and remove the skin from the chicken. (It doesn't look pretty and who needs the extra fat.) Pour sauce over chicken and serve.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE WITH CARAMELIZED PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook onions until softened and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer onions into a tagine. Layer chicken pieces on top of onions.
• Combine turmeric, cumin, ground coriander, and salt in a small bowl; mix well with remaining 5 tablespoons olive oil. Spread spice mixture onto the chicken pieces. Add cinnamon pieces, bay leaves, ginger, and cilantro. Pour in 1/2 cup of water and cover tagine with a lid.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 50 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a skillet over low heat while chicken is cooking. Add sliced pears and honey and cook, while stirring, until honey has caramelized.
• Remove tagine from the oven and stir in caramelized pears. Return to the oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

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 PRUNES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Dry chicken and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large, heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, to very hot. Add chicken (in batches if necessary) skin side down, and sear until skin is golden brown. Remove chicken when browned (do not turn it) and set aside.
• Discard all but a thin film of fat from the pan. Add onion and garlic and sauté on low until soft. Stir in paprika and cumin, cook about a minute and then add prunes, olives, stock and butter. Cook, stirring, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer contents of pan to a 12- to 14-inch tagine, sauté pan or casserole. Place chicken on top, skin side up.
• Cover and cook on medium-low heat about 40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately or set aside to be reheated. To serve, scatter lemon zest and mint over the chicken, squeeze juice of the lemon on top and bring tagine to the table covered.

MOROCCAN TAGINE OF CHICKEN WITH PRUNES, APRICOTS, AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or other large, heavy frying pan with a cover. Add the onions, and sauté slowly until golden. While the onions are cooking, season the chicken pieces well with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Push aside the onions and tuck the chicken pieces into the pan. Brown them well on all sides.
• Add the prunes, raisins, and apricots to the chicken pieces, along with the saffron, cumin, and paprika, and a cup of water. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for about 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and most of the liquid has evaporated. (Add more water if necessary.)
• Just before serving, toast the almonds in the microwave for 3 minutes, and sprinkle them over the chicken. Serve with saffron rice (see page 278).

MOROCCAN CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat the broth in a tagine or in a thick-bottomed pot with a lid.
• Add the spices/herbs and seasonings to the broth and whisk to ensure there are no lumps. You can use a real whisk if you want, but I just use a fork.
• Finely dice the onion and place into the seasoned broth. Simmer, covered.
• Finely dice the chillis and add to the simmering onions. Keep the seeds if you like your food hot, otherwise remove the seeds before dicing.
• While this is simmering, dice the zucchini and yellow squash. Then cut the bell peppers into long strips. Set both aside in a bowl.
• Cut chicken breast in half the long way. Take each half and slice along the short axis so that the slices are not more than 1/4" thick. This is easiest to do if the chicken is partially frozen.
• Add the chicken to the simmering onions and chillis, ensuring that the slices are submerged.
• Add the zucchini, yellow squash, and bell peppers. Do not stir. It's ok if they are not submerged, the steam will cook them.
• Re-cover and simmer 45 minutes. Serve over couscous or rice. Alternatively, remove chicken and veggies, increase heat to "high", and reduce the sauce. Add chicken and veggies back, heat throughout, and serve as a stew.

ESTHER'S MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• Rub all pieces of chicken with a mixture of salt, pepper and cumin. Let stand for 1 hour.
• In a separate saucepan, cover the prunes with cold water and add the cinnamon. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 -30 minutes depending on dryness of prunes.
• Steam the onions in the casserole with the turmeric, saffron, ginger, salt, pepper and ¼ cup of water for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile brown the almonds in a saucepan with oil and drain onto paper towels.
• Using the same oil and pan, brown chicken on all sides then transfer to the steamed onions and add 1 cup water. (this can be transferred into the tagine at this point and placed in oven ). Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Add the cooked prunes and some of the prune water to the tagine and continue cooking until the chicken and prunes are really tender.
• To serve, place chicken pieces on a serving dish (or simply leave in the tagine). Cover with prunes and sauce, then sprinkle with almonds and sesame seeds (if desired).