Chicken Tagine - Print This Recipe
Yield: 10 Servings
5 (2 lb 8 oz/1.13 kg) chickens, cut into 6 pieces each
1 tbsp/15 g salt
1 ½ tsp/3 g ground black pepper
2 fl oz/60 mL extra-virgin olive oil
30 cipollini onions, blanched and peeled
1 ginger piece ( ½ in/1 cm long), thinly sliced
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tsp/2 g cumin seeds, toasted and ground
¼ tsp/0.20 g saffron
8 to 10 fl oz/240 to 300 mL water or chicken stock, or as needed
50 picholine olives
2 Preserved Lemons (recipe follows)
4 tbsp/12 g chopped parsley
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a tagine, rondeau, or brasier. Place the chicken pieces carefully in the oil and sauté until they turn golden brown. Transfer the chicken to a hotel pan and reserve.
- Add the onions to the pan and cook, stirring from time to time, until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and toast until aromatic, 1 minute more. Add the cumin and saffron and cook until the mixture turns a deeper color and gives off a sweet aroma, about 1 minute.
- Return the chicken to the pan and add the water or stock. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Cover and braise for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, turning the pieces occasionally to keep them evenly moistened. (Maintain only a small amount of water or stock so the braising liquid will become concentrated.)
- In the last 15 minutes, add the olives, lemons, and parsley. Simmer the mixture until the olives are tender and the aroma of the lemons is apparent.
- Remove the lemons and serve the tagine immediately or hold it hot for service.
Preserved Lemons
Makes 6 lemons
6 lemons
5 oz/142 g salt
10 fl oz/300 mL lemon juice, or as needed
- Wash the lemons very well. Cut each one in 6 wedges lengthwise and remove all the seeds. Place the lemon wedges in a very clean jar. Add the salt and the lemon juice and mix well. Add more lemon juice if necessary to just cover the lemons.
- Cover with a lid and refrigerate. Stir the lemons every day or two to help dissolve the salt. Allow the lemons to cure for at least 1 week. Rinse under cold water before using as needed.
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