Chicken Tagine
A flavorful Moroccan dish of slow-cooked chicken, spices, and dried apricots, combining sweet and savory elements for a unique one-pot meal.
Ingredients
Dried Fruits
- 1 cup dried apricot, halved Soak in boiling water for 30 minutes
Main Ingredients
- 6 pieces chicken thighs, bone-in skin-on
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, cut into 0.3 cm/1/8" slices
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 400 g crushed tomato
- 400 g canned chickpeas, drained
- 1 tbsp preserved lemon skin, finely minced
- 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 tsp cooking salt
- ¾ tsp ground cumin
- ¾ tsp ground ginger
- ¾ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp allspice powder
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
- ¼ tsp coriander powder
- ⅛ tsp clove powder
Garnishes
- 1 cup kalamata olives Can substitute for apricots
- ⅓ cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted For garnish
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander, roughly chopped For garnish
Serving
- Couscous - plain or with fruit and/or nuts Serve over couscous
Instructions
Preparation
- Soak the dried apricots in a bowl of boiling water for 30 minutes, then drain.
- Sprinkle both sides of the chicken thighs with salt.
Cooking
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Place chicken in the skillet skin-side down and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until golden. Turn and cook the flesh side for 1 minute then remove to a plate.
- Remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet. Reduce heat to medium. Add onions and cook for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the Ras el hanout (spice mix) and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the cinnamon stick, crushed tomato, chickpeas, plumped apricots, chicken stock, and preserved lemon, then stir. Place the chicken on top, skin side up.
- Bring the liquid to a simmer then cover with a lid. Cook for 5 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed.
- Remove the lid and cook for a further 20 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 70°C/158°F.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve over couscous and sprinkle with fresh coriander.
Notes
Brown the chicken properly for enhanced flavor. Soaking the apricots improves their taste and texture. Feel free to adjust spices based on preference. Can substitute apricots with kalamata olives or add vegetables like zucchini or carrots.