Orange Apricot Chicken Tagine Food

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH APRICOTS: A DELICIOUS MOROCCAN DISH

Steps:

• In a large-sized mixing bowl big enough to hold your chicken, combine your chicken spices - salt, ginger, saffron, black pepper, white pepper, Ras el Hanout, and turmeric. Stir until well combined.
• Add in your raw pieces of chicken, and toss until the spice blend evenly coats all chicken pieces.
• In a large tagine pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter and add olive oil, onions, garlic, and cinnamon sticks.
• Place the seasoned chicken in the tagine, meat-side down. The chicken should be in a single layer, sitting on top of the onions. Once the chicken is in the pot, place the bouquet of fresh cilantro on top.
• Place the water in the chicken bowl and swirl to collect any leftover spices, then add the water to the tagine. Cover the tagine and let the liquids reach a simmer, keeping the burner's heat medium-low.
• Once the tagine reaches a simmer, cook the chicken, undisturbed, for ~ 1 hr.
• After 1 hr, remove the tagine's lid, remove a ½ c. of cooking liquids, and set aside. Remove the liquid carefully, as it will be piping hot at this point!
• Slowly flip the chicken in the pan until the meat side faces up. Cover the tagine again, and continue simmering for another 30-60 mins, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the liquid reduces.
• As the chicken cooks, place the dried apricots in a small pot of water and cover. Heat the pot over medium heat and simmer, partially covered for 10-15 mins, or until the apricots are tender enough to pinch in half.
• Remove the apricot pot from the heat and drain in a strainer in the sink, then return the apricots to the pot.
• Add the coconut sugar or honey, ground cinnamon, and ½ c. of the cooking liquid you reserved into the apricot pot, then return the mixture to a gentle simmer for 5-10 mins, until the liquid becomes a thick syrup.
• Open your tagine and remove the cilantro and cinnamon sticks.
• Remove the cooked chicken, arrange it on a large serving platter, or serve in the tagine itself!
• Spoon the stewed apricots on the chicken, and top with fried almonds or sesame seeds.
• Serve and enjoy your Moroccan chicken recipe with apricots!

CITRUS CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Heat a wide braising pan or tagine over medium-high heat.
• In a small bowl, combine the harissa, paprika, turmeric, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, allspice, cardamom, cayenne, orange zest and 2 tablespoons of canola oil. Stir to form a paste.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper; rub half of the spice mixture on both sides of the thighs.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil to the pan. Sear the chicken skin-side down until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip and brown the other side. Remove to a plate.
• Add the garlic, onion and remaining spice mixture to the same pan, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the onions are softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Return the chicken to the pan along with the tomatoes, chicken stock, olives, apricots, preserved lemon and sliced oranges and season with salt and pepper, being careful with the salt. Braise in the oven, partially covered, for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to braise until the chicken is tender, another 15 to 45 minutes. Serve from the pan over couscous, garnishing with sliced Meyer lemon and whole cilantro and mint leaves.

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH APRICOTS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Stir together ground cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add chicken and turn to coat well.
• Heat butter and 1 tablespoon oil in base of tagine (or in skillet), uncovered, over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then brown half of chicken, skin sides down, turning over once, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Brown remaining chicken in same manner, adding any spice mixture left in bowl.
• Add onion and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to tagine and cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Tie cilantro and parsley into a bundle with kitchen string and add to tagine along with 1/2 cup water, chicken, and any juices accumulated on plate. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 30 minutes.
• While chicken cooks, bring honey, remaining cup water, cinnamon stick, and apricots to a boil in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until apricots are very tender (add more water if necessary). Once apricots are tender, simmer until liquid is reduced to a glaze, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While apricots cook, heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in a small skillet over moderate heat and cook almonds, stirring occasionally, until just golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Ten minutes before chicken is done, add apricot mixture to tagine. Discard herbs and cinnamon stick, then serve chicken sprinkled with almonds on top.

MOROCCAN TAGINE OF CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a shallow non-metallic dish, mix the chicken with the crushed garlic, orange juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, cilantro, mint, cumin and nutmeg. Cover, and let marinate overnight (but give it a stir at least once).
• In a large dutch oven, heat 2 TBS oil over med/ high heat. Halve the onion lengthwise and thinly slice it crosswise. Add the onion and the minced garlic to the pot, and stir until softened and cooked, but not browned. Remove from pot and set aside.
• Add 1 more tablespoon of the oil and add the chicken, reserving the marinade. Brown the chicken in the pot and then add the onions, prunes, apricots and their soaking liquid, marinade, chicken stock and salt (tip: "rinse" the marinade dish with the chicken stock to ensure that all of the spices, etc, make it into the pot).
• Bring to a boil, then immediately lower to a simmer and cover with a lid. Simmer for 2-2 1/2hours. Towards the end, remove the lid from the pot to allow the liquid to evaporate a little.
• Serve warm and sprinkled with sesame seeds, if desired.

CHICKEN AND CHICKPEA TAGINE WITH APRICOTS AND HARISSA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat canola oil in a large Dutch oven or a tagine over high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides and place in the hot pan, skin side down, in batches if needed; cook until golden brown. Turn the thighs over and cook for 2 minutes longer. Remove chicken to a plate.
• Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the oil from the pan then add the olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the ras al-hanut and cook another 30 seconds. Add the saffron with the soaking liquid, cinnamon stick, tomatoes, chickpeas, and apricots and bring to a simmer. Nestle the chicken into the mixture and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook on the stovetop or in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Do not remove the lid to check on the chicken until this time. Garnish each serving with a dollop of Harissa Sauce, parsley and cilantro.
• Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl and let stand at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.

APRICOT-ORANGE CHICKEN BAKE

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the upper position and heat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Coat 9 by 13-inch baking dish lightly with vegetable oil spray.
• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper.
• Lay the chicken in prepared 9 by 13-inch baking dish.
• Whisk the apricot preserves, dried apricot pieces, and orange juce into the saucepan with the honey, vinegar, soy sauce, curry powder, and Tabasco sauce, over medium-high heat.
• Simmer, whisking often, until the mixture has thickened, about 8 minutes.
• Quickly dissolve the cornstarch in the water, then whisk into the honey mixture.
• Pour the apricot-orange sauce over the chicken, then sprinkle with the almonds.
• Bake until the chicken registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 15-18 minutes.