Craving a rich, fragrant stew that delectably satisfies your need for comfort food while also feeding your desire for experiencing different cuisines? Make our Moroccan chicken tagine with olives, preserved lemons and couscous, inspired by Chew Nibble Nosh, and your hunger yearnings will be appeased. Laden with intoxicatingly aromatic Moroccan spices, this palate-pleasing chicken dish features juicy chicken pieces exuding garlic and ginger flair while bathing in a thick sauce flavorfully punctuated with lemons, olives, harissa and honey. We serve chicken tagine atop tender couscous studded with raisins and brightened with fresh parsley. ALSO TRY: Instant Pot butter chicken What exactly is a tagine, you ask? The word tagine has two specific meanings. First, it refers to the traditional clay or ceramic cooking vessel used predominantly in Morocco or Northern Africa. The bottom of the tagine is a shallow round dish while the top is a conical shape. The tagine is often brought to the table for an eye-widening presentation. The second meaning of tagine refers to a succulent stew that is slow cooked in the uniquely-shaped earthenware vessel. Since tagine cookware isn’t commonplace in most kitchens, we’re giving you a chicken tagine recipe that is conveniently cooked in a cast iron casserole dish. Though this sensational stew isn’t served as dramatically as a traditional tagine, the tongue-thrilling flavors of this dish will transport your tastebuds to a Moroccan cafe. Let’s cook!
Stir together spices for the Moroccan flavor
In a large bowl, combine paprika, cayenne, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper.
Add chicken to the bowl
Add the chicken to the spices and use tongs to completely coat the chicken with the tasty rub, then let the chicken sit in the spices to absorb the fabulous flavors.
Brown chicken in a cast iron baking dish
On the stovetop, heat oil in a cast iron casserole dish. Brown the fragrant chicken pieces on both sides then transfer it to a plate and set aside.
Add sliced onions, garlic, ginger and flour to pan
Add the onion to the casserole dish and stir often until the onions are tender and translucent. Add garlic and ginger and cook just until fragrant, then sprinkle with flour and stir to coat the onion mixture.
Pour chicken broth over the onion mixture
Stir in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the dish. This will create a delicious sauce for your chicken.
Add chicken to the onion and sauce mixture
Add the chicken pieces back to the casserole dish, nestling them into the sauce and coating them completely.
Top with lemon, olives, Harissa, and honey
Cover the casserole dish and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Meanwhile, to make your couscous…
Bring chicken broth to a boil then stir in the couscous. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for five minutes.
Finish off couscous with garnishment
After it is done cooking, fluff the couscous, pour it into a bowl and then add the raisins and fresh parsley.
Serve your chicken with the couscous
Spoon generous helpings of the chicken mixture on top of your couscous and serve.
This is the perfect comfort food dish
Grab and spoon and dig in!
Look at all those beautiful ingredients and colors
Courses Main course
1 teaspoon paprika1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper1 teaspoon ground cumin1/2 teaspoon turmeric1-1/2 teaspoons salt1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper3 pounds chicken breasts and thighs, cut into large equal-sized pieces2 tablespoons olive oil1 large onion, thinly sliced3 cloves garlic, minced1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger2 tablespoons all-purpose flour1 cup chicken broth3 small preserved lemons, cut into quarters3/4 cup Castelvetrano olives1 tablespoon harissa, or another type of chili-garlic sauce1 tablespoon honey1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Couscous
2 cups couscous2-1/2 cups chicken broth1/2 cup golden raisins1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
