Authentic Moroccan Chicken Food

TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Poke small holes in the chicken with a skewer. Mix the ingredients for the marinade then coat the meat & skin of the chicken with the marinade. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours.
• Remove the flesh from the preserved lemon to be used in the browning mixture.
• Place the chicken in a large pressure cooker. Then add all the ingredients for the sauce to the cooker along with enough water to reach halfway up the chicken. Seal with the lid & cook for 20 minutes (after it begins to hiss). Poke with a fork to make sure that the chicken is done & no blood leaks out.
• Mix the ingredients for the browning mixture in a small bowl. Once the chicken is done cooking remove it & place on a baking pan. Coat both sides of the chicken with the browning mixture then cook in the oven on 350 degrees until golden brown.
• Simmer the sauce over medium heat until it thickens, around 10 minutes. If you want your sauce to be more brown in color add 1/4-1/2 tsp of sugar to the pot while simmering.
• Place the chicken in the center of a large serving dish. Pour the sauce & fried potatoes (if using) over the chicken. Serve hot with thick bread.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine all of the ingredients except the chicken. Once well blended, add the chicken and toss to coat.
• Put in freezer bags, label and freeze. OR Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and brown in a large saucepan over medium heat until almost cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
• Saute onion, garlic, carrots and celery in same pan. When tender, stir in ginger, paprika, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper and turmeric; stir fry for about 1 minute, then mix in broth and tomatoes. Return chicken to pan, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Add chickpeas and zucchini to pan and bring to simmering once again; cover pan and cook for about 15 minutes, or until zucchini is cooked through and tender. Stir in lemon juice and serve.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine the carrots and 1 cup water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until crisp-tender, about 7 minutes; cover and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, then add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning occasionally, until browned and just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the onion to the skillet and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Stir in the cumin and cinnamon; remove from the heat.
• Add the couscous, chickpeas, apricots and lemon zest to the skillet. Add the carrots and the hot cooking water (return to a simmer if the liquid has cooled); stir to combine. Add the chicken and any collected juices. Cover and let stand until the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes; fluff with a fork. Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro. Season with salt.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAJINE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the garlic, cumin, ginger, paprika, salt and pepper, 1/2 cup grated onion, and the oil.
• Rinse the preserved lemons, and remove the pulp. RESERVE the lemon peel for later use.
• Add the lemon pulp to the mixing bowl. Add the chicken. Mix everything together and place in a large plastic bag to marinate overnight in the refrigerator. (Twenty-four hours really gives the chicken the best flavor.)
• In a large Dutch oven or casserole, place the chicken and marinade; add the stems of the parsley and cilantro, the rest of the grated onion, the powdered saffron and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, turn down to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes.
• Remove the cover, stir the chicken and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes or until the chicken is tender.
• Remove the chicken to a serving dish and cover with foil to keep warm. Keep sauce on stove and begin to reduce.
• Slice the preserved lemon peel into thin slices and add to the sauce along with the olives, parsley and cilantro. Reduce until the sauce is just a little thick. This shouldn't take more than 5 minutes at most.
• Uncover the chicken and remove the skin from the chicken. (It doesn't look pretty and who needs the extra fat.) Pour sauce over chicken and serve.

CINNAMON-SPICED MOROCCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of the flour, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, ground red pepper and sea salt in shallow dish.
• Coat both sides of chicken with spice mixture.
• Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat.
• Add chicken and cook 3 minutes per side or until golden brown.
• Mix remaining 1 tablespoon flour and broth; add to skillet.
• Bring to boil.
• Stir in dates and almonds.
• Reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, 7 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
• Serve over couscous or rice.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Stir caraway seeds in heavy small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to processor. Add next 10 ingredients. Purée until coarse paste forms. Rub paste all over chicken halves.
• Melt butter in large pot over medium heat. Add onions; sauté until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add chicken halves to pot. Add enough water to almost cover chicken. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until chicken is tender, turning once, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer chicken, skin side up, to baking sheet. Add cilantro to liquid in pot. Boil until reduced to 3 cups, about 20 minutes. Season with salt. Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Broil chicken until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter. Serve with braising liquid.