North African Chicken Tagine Recipe

 
The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes) invites you to try North African Chicken Tagine recipe. Enjoy quick and easy Middle Eastern food recipes and learn how to make North African Chicken Tagine. 

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse
SHOW: The Essence of Emeril
EPISODE: Chicken

Total Time: 40 min
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 30 min

Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Level: Easy

Ingredients

1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 tablespoon warm water
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 (3 1/2 to 4 pound) roasting chicken, cut into 8 pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 sticks cinnamon
2 bay leaves
1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/3 cup rough chopped preserved lemon
1/4 cup rough chopped green olives
1/4 cup toasted almond slivers
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
Cooked couscous, for serving, recipe follows

Directions

Combine the saffron threads and water in a small bowl and allow to steep. In another small bowl, combine the kosher salt, black pepper, cumin and cardamom. Mix well, and season the chicken pieces on both sides with the spice blend.

Set a tagine or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add half of the chicken pieces, skin side down, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside while you cook the remaining chicken pieces. Remove and set aside.

Add the cinnamon sticks and bay leaves to the tagine and cook, stirring, for 20 seconds. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic to the pan and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the stock, saffron, raisins, preserved lemons and olives to the pan and bring to a boil. Return the chicken to the pan, skin side down. Return the sauce to a boil, cover the tagine, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces to the other side and add the almonds. Continue to cook, covered, until the meat is very tender, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Garnish the chicken with the mint and serve over warm couscous in shallow bowls.


Couscous:

2 cups chicken broth

Salt

1 cup couscous

Bring the chicken broth (and salt if using) to a boil. Add couscous, stir, and remove from heat. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse

More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:

Chicken and pumpkin tagine 
Lamb shank tagine 
Authentic Moroccan lamb tagine  
Chicken Tagine With Olives 
Chicken Tagine with Onions, Honey, and Mint 
Fast chicken tagine 

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