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Moroccan Chicken
The true title of this recipe is 'Chicken, Date, and Apricot Tagine', but that all sounded so complicated and bewildering. And you should try this recipe, not run from it's name. This chicken is oh-so tasty and tender, the kitchen will smell miraculous, and it's fun and new. What more could you want from a recipe? [please note the rhetoricalness of that question]
This is definitely one of those recipes where you should gather and prepare all the ingredients before you start cooking. And don't leave out lemon - it really puts the zing in the dish. I didn't have ground turmeric, so I subbed with curry powder which had all the spices listed plus some. (I still added the other spices in qtys listed, but I could've used only curry powder I'm sure.) My only change that I'd wish on this dish is for the flavors to match the aromas. The chicken was very mild tasting (which isn't all bad).
Well, go ahead. What are you waiting for? Cook this!
Moroccan Chicken
Cooking Light; March 2004
- 1 whole chicken (minus the wings)
- 1 Tbl olive oil
- 1 c. chopped onion
- 1 tsp ground turmeric (or curry powder, depending)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground red pepper
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 c. fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 c. whole pitted dates, sliced
- 1/3 c. dried apricots, sliced
- 2 tsp julienne-cut lemon rind
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 c. chopped fresh parsley
- 1/3 c. lemon sections, peeled and chopped (1 large lemon)
- 2 Tbl chopped fresh cilantro
- 3 c. hot cooked couscous
- Skin and cut chicken into parts (drumsticks, thighs, breast halves and wings). Reserve chicken wings for "another use" (such as stock, but I tossed them - sorry CL. You can also save a step by buying the chicken already cut up.)
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 minutes on each side or until browned.
- Add onion and next six ingredients (turmeric thru garlic); cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth, dates, apricots, rind and salt. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.
- Make the couscous according to package directions.
- Remove from heat; stir in the parsley, lemon sections, and cilantro. Serve over couscous.
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