Moroccan Chicken With Golden Rice Food

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• Combine the spices in a small bowl and set aside. Zest the lemon. Combine 1 teaspoon of the lemon zest with 1 minced garlic clove; set aside.
• Season both sides of chicken pieces with 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or pan over medium-high heat until beginning to smoke. Brown the chicken pieces skin side down in single layer until deep golden, about 5 minutes; using tongs, flip the chicken pieces over and brown the other side, about 4 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a large plate; when cool enough to handle, peel off the skin and discard. Pour off and discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until they have browned at the edges but still retain their shape, 5 to 7 minutes (add a few tablespoons of water now and then if the pan gets too dark). Add the remaining minced garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the spices and flour and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broth, honey, remaining lemon zest, and ¼ teaspoon salt, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the chicken (with any accumulated juices) back in, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the carrots, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the carrots are tender-crisp, about 10 minutes more.
• Stir in the olives, reserved lemon zest-garlic mixture, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice; taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if desired. Serve with couscous.
• Note: Don't fret too much over trimming the chicken thighs. The skin gets removed midway through the cooking process and most of the fat will cook off and get drained. I usually just take kitchen shears and quickly snip off any excess skin or fat. Cracked green olives are olives that have been 'cracked' or split open before curing, allowing the brine or marinade to penetrate. You can find them in your supermarket's olive bar, or substitute any green olive that you like.
• Make-Ahead: After you have completed the step of cooking the carrots, the dish can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. To serve, gently warm on the stove until the chicken is heated through, then proceed to the step where the olives and remaining ingredients are added.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN & RICE

Steps:

• First marinade the chicken. Add the lemon juice, turmeric, cumin, coriander, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper to a large bowl and stir. Add chicken and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for one hour to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove chicken from fridge when ready to cook. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over the stove top. Add the chicken, the meaty side down. Cook for about 5 minutes until browned and flip over cooking the other side for a further 5 minutes or so. Reduce heat to low, add the 1/4 cup/60 ml of chicken stock, cover and leave to cook for a further 10 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and transfer to a plate.
• In the reserved pan, add the remaining olive oil, garlic and onion. Stir for for a minute and add the turmeric and coriander. Stir well. Leave to cook until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir well until the rice is completely coated, about 2 - 3 minutes. Evenly pour over all the stock and give a quick stir.
• Arrange the chicken over the dish, cover and put in the oven for further 20 minutes or until the rice has absorbed all the liquid. Remove from oven and leave a few minutes before serving.
• Fluff rice with a fork before serving.
• I recommend serving this dish with lime wedges, Greek yogurt and fresh coriander.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH GOLDEN RICE

Steps:

• Prepare rice according to directions on package.
• When cooked, set aside and keep warm.
• Preheat oven to 375°. Dredge chicken in flour.
• In large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter over medium high heat.
• Add chicken breast; brown well on both sides and remove from pan. Set aside.
• Pour excess grease from skillet and wipe clean with paper towel.
• Add remaining olive oil and butter to skillet. Heat over medium high heat. Add shallots and capers; sauté for 30 seconds.
• Add lemons, coconut milk and sugar. Bring to a boil for about 1 minute.
• Spread yellow rice in the bottom of an ovenproof dish.
• Place chicken on top of rice.
• Pour coconut milk mixture over top.
• Bake for about 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, depending on the size of your breasts.
• Serve hot.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CHICKPEAS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan (I use my electric frypan for this) heat oil over medium heat.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper the brown well on both sides; transfer to a plate.
• Add in onions and garlic; saute for about 5 minutes, then add in cumin, turmeric, paprika and cinnamon; cook stirring with a wooden spoon for about 1 minute.
• Stir in broth, honey, lemon zest and flour; stir to combine.
• Then add in the browned chicken; simmer covered for about 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes of cooking add in the raisins and continue to cook (UNCOVERED) until the chicken is completely cooked through (about 15-20 minutes).
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Remove the chicken to plate/s.
• Add in the chickpeas and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve with cooked rice.

MOROCCAN RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear; drain.
• Place rice in a microwave-safe rice cooker or bowl.
• Add enough stock until it covers the rice by 2cm.
• Cover with a lid or a double layer of plastic wrap and Cook on High/800watts/100% for 5 minutes.
• Cook on Medium/500watts/50% for a further 7 minutes.
• Remove from microwave and set aside.
• Meanwhile place oil, onion, almonds, pine nuts, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and chili powder in a microwave safe rice cooker or bowl.
• Cook uncovered stirring every minute on High for 3 to 4 minutes or until the nuts are toasted and the mixture is fragrant.
• Add raisins, orange rind and juice.
• Cook on high for 1 minute.
• Add the nut mixture and coriander to the rice and stir gently to combine.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper.

EXOTIC AND SWEET MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH SPICY RICE

Steps:

• Cut the chicken breast into largish bite-sized portions.
• Mix the flour with the cinnamon, confectioner's sugar, ginger, salt and pepper to taste.
• Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture.
• Fry in shallow oil until browned and cooked through, turning once.
• Keep warm in a low oven.
• Saute the chile peppers, mushrooms and onion in oil until softened and golden.
• Add the cooked basmati rice and continue sauteing until cooked through.
• Add the salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread the rice and a large platter.
• Top with a pyramid of chicken pieces.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro (coriander), if desired.