North African Lentil Chickpea Tagine Food

NORTH AFRICAN CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C/gas 4. Cut each chicken breast in half, then season all the chicken. Heat the oil in a mediumsize ovenproof casserole dish. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and brown well all over - you can do it in batches. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Lower heat slightly, add the shallots to the pan and cook until golden brown all over. Add the garlic and grated ginger and cook for 30 secs before adding all the spices and cooking for 1 min more.
• Throw the butternut squash into the pan and stir to coat in the spices. Arrange the chicken, skin side uppermost, on top of the shallots and squash. Pour over the stock and drizzle in the honey. Bring to a gentle simmer, then transfer to the oven to bake for 40 mins until tender. Scatter with the coriander and serve with couscous and a bowl of harissa, if you like.

CHICKEN AND CHICKPEA TAGINE WITH VANILLA

Steps:

• Put the oil and butter in a large skillet or flameproof casserole with a lid and place over medium high heat. When the butter melts, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens, 5 to 10 minutes (do not let it brown). Add the garlic, a large pinch of salt, and the spices and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, raisins, and vanilla and bring to a boil, stirring (if the mixture is very dry, add about 1/2 cup water). Taste and add salt as necessary.
• Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and nestle them into the sauce. Cover and, 5 minutes later, adjust the heat so the mixture simmers steadily but not violently. Cook until the chicken is very tender, 45 to 60 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then garnish and serve.

SPICY CHICKPEA TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a tagine or Dutch oven over medium heat; cook and stir onions and garlic until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add turmeric, cumin, agave nectar, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and black pepper and stir until onion mixture is evenly coated. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the tagine; add carrots and salt. Cook over medium-low for 12 minutes.
• Mix chickpeas into carrot mixture, adding more water if needed to cover the bottom but keeping the sauce thick. Cook mixture for 7 minutes.
• Serve tagine with lemon wedges and cilantro.