Easy Moroccan Chicken Tagine With Butternut Squash Food

STOVETOP MOROCCAN TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook the chicken, onion, and garlic about 15 minutes, until browned.
• Mix the squash, garbanzo beans, carrot, tomatoes with juice, broth, sugar, and lemon juice into the skillet. Season with salt, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, and continue cooking 30 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH CHICKPEAS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in the bottom of a slow cooker.
• Combine coriander, cumin, ginger, turmeric, salt, cinnamon and cayenne in a small bowl.
• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet or saute pan. Sprinkle approximately half the spice mixture over the chicken thighs. Stir the remaining spice mixture into the butternut squash/chickpea combination.
• Place chicken thighs in hot oil then brown well 6-8 minutes. Turn over and brown the other side in the hot, spicy fat for another 3-4 minutes.
• Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker and pour any accumulated fat from the skillet into the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 8 hours.
• Stir chopped cilantro into butternut squash/chickpea combination.
• Place butternut squash/chickpea combination on a platter, top with chicken and sprinkle with cilantro. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and lemon wedges and serve immediately.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TAGINE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Put the squash and dates into a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Season generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon stick, sweet paprika, turmeric, cumin, hot smoked paprika, ground ginger, cloves and cayenne and set aside.
• Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the chicken dry and season it generously with salt. Working in two batches, put the chicken in the skillet skin side down and cook without moving it until the skin is deeply golden, crisp, and releases fairly easily from the bottom of the pan, about 5 to 8 minutes per batch. (You need to brown only the skin side.) Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker, nestling the thighs skin side up and in one crowded layer on top of the squash.
• Decrease the stovetop heat to medium. If there is a lot of rendered fat in the pan, pour off all but a thin layer to cover the entire bottom of the skillet. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring to scrape up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the reserved spices and stir well for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is a uniform brick red. Add the lemon juice, stir well to incorporate the browned bits, then scrape the mixture over the top of the chicken, making sure to include any spice-stained oil that remains.
• Cook on low until the squash and chicken are very tender and the flavors are mellow, at least 4 hours and up to 6 hours. If it's more convenient, you can let the slow cooker switch to warm after 6 hours. The dish will hold on warm for another 2 hours before the chicken starts to dry out. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick. Add lemon juice and salt to taste and fold in the chopped parsley and scallions. Serve with couscous or pita, topped with yogurt and toasted almonds, if desired.

INSTANT POT® CHICKEN TAGINE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Stir 2 tablespoons oil, 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, coriander, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper together in a small bowl to form a paste. Toss 1 tablespoon paste with chicken in a medium bowl.
• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Heat remaining oil until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add onion and 1 teaspoon kosher salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes.
• Stir in remaining spice paste, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom using a wooden spoon. Add butternut squash, tomatoes with their juices, and chicken; stir to combine, then distribute mixture in an even layer. Close and lock the lid and move the pressure valve to sealing. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 3 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions for 10 minutes. Release remaining pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.
• Stir spinach into the pot and cover without locking the lid into place. Let stand until spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and zest; taste, and season with salt and pepper.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• Mix cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, coriander, ginger, mint, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Measure out 1/2 cup spice mix and set the remaining aside for another use.
• Bring a small pot of water to a boil; add apricots and raisins. Cook until fruit is soft, about 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking water.
• Pour enough olive oil into a large skillet or Dutch oven to coat the bottom; turn heat to medium. Coat chicken with the 1/2 cup spice mix and place in the hot oil; cook until golden brown and releases easily from the skillet, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Mix onion and garlic into skillet with chicken; cook and stir until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add apricots, raisins, reserved 1/2 cup water from fruit, chicken broth, and honey; reduce heat to low and cover. Cook until chicken is very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Serve chicken garnished with cilantro and almonds.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH TAGINE

Steps:

• Place salt, red pepper, cardamom, cloves, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, coriander, and pepper in a small bowl and stir to fully combine. Rub chicken pieces with half of the spice mixture.
• Place the bottom of the tagine on a heat diffuser on the stove over medium-high heat. When the tagine base is hot add the 2 teaspoons of oil to heat. Add the chicken and cook 3-4 minutes on each side until browned. Do this in two batches if necessary. Set chicken aside. Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining oil, onions, garlic, and saffron to the tagine base. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Place the squash in the tagine base and cover with remaining spice mixture. Toss lightly. Return chicken to the tagine base and add chicken stock. Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and cover with tagine lid.
• Simmer for 1 hour, then add raisins. Cook for an additional 20-25 minutes or until chicken breasts are fully cooked (165˚F) and squash is tender.
• Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve from tagine or on a platter, reserving liquid for serving.NOTE: If you do not have a tagine, this recipe can be made in a Dutch oven with a lid.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN ONE-POT

Steps:

• Season 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a flameproof dish, then brown the chicken on all sides. Remove the chicken to a plate.
• Whizz 1 chopped onion, 100g tomatoes, 100g chopped ginger and 3 garlic cloves into a rough paste.
• Fry 1 sliced onion in 1 tbsp olive oil in the dish until softened, then add 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp coriander and 1 tbsp cinnamon and fry for 1 min more until fragrant. Add the paste and fry for another few mins to soften.
• Return the chicken to the dish with 1 large butternut squash, cut into big chunks, 600ml chicken stock, 2 tbsp brown sugar and 2 tbsp red wine vinegar.
• Bring to a simmer, then cook for 30 mins until the chicken is cooked through.
• Lift the chicken out and stir in 100g dried cherries, then continue simmering the sauce to thicken while you shred the chicken into bite-sized chunks. Stir the chicken back into the sauce and season.
• Mix 1 finely chopped small red onion, the zest of 1 lemon, a handful of mint leaves and 100g crumbled feta cheese. Scatter over the dish, then serve with couscous and natural yogurt.

MOROCCAN VEGETABLE CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. slow cooker, combine the squash, potatoes, onion and garlic. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; place over vegetables. Top with apricots and cranberries., In a small bowl, combine flour and broth until smooth. Stir in the chili sauce, ginger, curry, cinnamon and cumin. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until chicken and vegetables are tender., Stir in garbanzo beans; cover and cook for 30 minutes or until heated through. Serve with couscous if desired.

PRESSURE COOKER CHICKEN TAGINE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Using the sauté setting, warm the oil in the pot of a 6- to 8-quart pressure cooker. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the fresh ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant and softened, about 2 minutes. Add the cinnamon stick, sweet paprika, turmeric, cumin, smoked paprika, ground ginger, cayenne and cloves. Season generously with black pepper. Stir well.
• Add the tomato paste and stir until fully combined, fragrant and brick-red in color, about 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and lemon juice, scraping any browned bits that have collected at the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat. Add the chicken and the dates and stir to combine. Place the butternut squash wedges on top and season them generously with salt and pepper. Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 16 minutes.
• Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release remaining pressure manually. Open the lid, add the parsley and scallions and gently fold everything together. (The butternut squash will fall apart slightly to thicken the sauce.) Taste and add lemon juice and salt, if necessary. Serve with couscous or pita and top with yogurt and toasted almonds, if desired.

MOROCCAN-STYLE CHICKEN WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH NOODLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place spiralized butternut squash in a bowl; add 1 tablespoon oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat and transfer to a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Heat butter and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sprinkle both sides with Moroccan spice, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover pan and cook, turning occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
• Add orange juice, apricots, cranberries, and dates to the same saute pan over medium heat. Cook and stir until orange juice thickens, 3 to 4 minutes. Add almonds and toss to coat. Remove topping from heat.
• Plate each portion with butternut squash, cooked rice, chicken, and topping.