Description
This Chicken Tagine is a Moroccan-inspired dish made with tender chicken braised in a warmly spiced sauce with apricots, olives, and preserved lemon. It’s a savory-sweet stew that’s both comforting and exotic.
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg / 2.4 lb chicken thigh cutlets, bone-in, skin-on
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, halved and sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups (500 ml) chicken stock/broth
- 1/2 cup (90g) dried apricots
- 1 preserved lemon, quartered and seeds removed
- 1/2 cup (75g) green olives
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup coriander/cilantro, chopped (garnish)
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large heavy-based pot over medium-high heat. Brown chicken skin-side down until golden, then flip and cook the other side. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, add sliced onions and cook until softened. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add all the spices (cumin, coriander, ginger, paprika, cinnamon) and stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Return chicken to the pot. Add chicken stock, apricots, preserved lemon, olives, and honey. Bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, cover with lid, and simmer for 45 minutes until chicken is tender.
- Remove lid and simmer for another 15 minutes to reduce the sauce slightly.
- Garnish with chopped coriander and toasted almonds if using. Serve with couscous or rice.
Notes
- You can substitute boneless chicken thighs, but bone-in adds more flavor.
- If you don’t have preserved lemon, use lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice as a substitute.
- Adjust sweetness by changing the amount of honey or apricots.
- Leftovers keep well for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Moroccan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
