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Traditional Moroccan Chicken Tagine

Traditional Moroccan Chicken Tagine

  • Author: Charlotte
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Moroccan
  • Diet: Low Lactose

Description

A comforting and aromatic Moroccan chicken tagine made with tender chicken thighs, warm spices, potatoes, carrots, green olives, and preserved lemons simmered in a rich saffron broth.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads soaked in 2 tablespoons warm water
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 3 medium carrots, cut into chunks
  • 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into wedges
  • 1 cup pitted green olives
  • 1 preserved lemon, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a tagine pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Season the chicken thighs with salt, black pepper, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon.
  3. Sear the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown, then transfer to a plate.
  4. Add sliced onions and minced garlic to the pot and cook until softened.
  5. Stir in the saffron water and chicken broth.
  6. Add carrots, potatoes, green olives, and preserved lemon slices.
  7. Return the chicken to the pot and cover.
  8. Simmer gently for 45 to 50 minutes until the chicken is tender and the vegetables are fully cooked.
  9. Sprinkle chopped cilantro and parsley over the tagine before serving.
  10. Serve warm with couscous, bread, or rice.

Notes

  • For deeper flavor, allow the tagine to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  • Taste before adding extra salt because olives and preserved lemons are naturally salty.
  • A Dutch oven works perfectly if you do not own a traditional tagine pot.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day after the flavors meld together.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Sodium: 890mg
  • Fat: 24g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 17g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 19g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 32g
  • Cholesterol: 135mg

Keywords: traditional Moroccan chicken tagine, chicken tagine with olives and preserved lemons, Moroccan chicken stew, saffron chicken tagine, authentic Moroccan dinner