Preserved Lemon Chicken Food

STOVETOP MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH PRESERVED LEMON AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Ahead of time if possible, combine the chicken with the onion, garlic, herbs, and spices, including half of the saffron. (Reserve the rest of the saffron for adding to the sauce at a later time.) If time allows, cover and leave the chicken to marinate in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
• When ready to cook, transfer the chicken and onions (scrape every last bit out of your bowl) to a heavy-bottomed pot, deep skillet or Dutch oven. Cover and cook the chicken over medium or medium-low heat, gently stirring and turning the chicken every 15 minutes or so, until the chicken is tender enough to pinch off the bones. (This will take approximately one hour, but longer if using a free range chicken). Keep the heat adjusted so that the chicken doesn't scorch, and only add a little water if you feel you must. Typically the chicken will braise in its own juices.
• When the chicken is cooked, carefully transfer it to a plate and cover.
• Continue cooking the onion mixture and sauce over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquids evaporate and the onions can be mashed into a blended mass which separates from the oils. If your onions do not appear to be melding, you can give a few pulses with an immersion blender, but do not overprocess.
• Add the preserved lemon, olives, the rest of the saffron, and a few tablespoons of water, and simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes. Return the chicken to the pot to heat through, or place under the broiler to brown the skin.
• Place the chicken on a serving platter, pour the onion sauce over the top and sides, and garnish the top of the chicken with the quartered lemon and some olives.
• For casual meals, consider garnishing the chicken with a handful or two of french fries (patate frite), which may also be offered as a traditional side.
• Moroccan tradition is to eat by hand, using crusty Moroccan bread for soaking up the sauce.

ONE-PAN CHICKEN AND RICE WITH PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the rice 3 to 5 times to get rid of excess starch. Set aside.
• Combine the cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, turmeric and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and sprinkle them on both sides with half of the spice mixture.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large (12-inch) pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. When hot (but not smoking), add the chicken and sear until it forms a golden brown crust, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and set aside.
• Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons oil into the same pan and place over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the rice and the remaining spice mix and stir to combine.
• Remove the flesh of the preserved lemon (discard the seeds and save the flesh for another use). Finely chop the lemon rind (peel). Add the rind to the rice followed by the olives. Stir to evenly distribute the olives. Pour the broth and 1 1/2 cups water into the pan and increase the heat to medium high. Bring to a simmer, place the chicken breasts back in the pan and cover the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes (see Cook's Note).
• You can serve the chicken as is, or shred it and add it back to the rice. Serve sprinkled with parsley.

CHICKEN AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan.
• Brown the chicken over high heat on all sides.
• Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Place the onion, garlic and ginger in a food processor and work until smooth.
• Add this puree to the frying pan and stir over medium heat for a minute or two, then add the cayenne pepper and paprika.
• Add the stock and lemon juice to the pan, bring to the boil stirring to combine.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until reduced by about 1/3.
• Return the chicken to the pan and add the lemon and olives and cook over a medium heat for a further 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Serve sprinkled with the parsley.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Cook the rice as the label directs. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add to the skillet, skin-side down, and cook until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and cook until just browned on the other side, about 3 more minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a plate and pour off the excess fat from the skillet. Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add the butter; let melt. Add the bell pepper and onion and cook until just softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook 1 more minute. Add the wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the chicken broth and preserved lemon slices and bring to a simmer.
• Return the chicken to the skillet, skin-side up. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Place the skillet under the broiler and cook until the chicken skin is crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Fluff the rice and divide among plates. Serve with the chicken, vegetable mixture and sauce from the skillet; top with dill.

CHICKEN WITH PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Marinate the chicken in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the cumin, paprika and chilli for about one hour. In a heavy-based pan, gently cook the onions and garlic in a little olive oil until soft and pale golden. Remove to a dish and set aside. In the same pan fry the chicken pieces until golden brown all over and season with salt and pepper. Add the onions back to the chicken with the preserved lemon and chicken stock or water. Cover with a lid and simmer very gently for about 45-50 minutes or until very soft. To serve Sprinkle with coriander and serve. Great served with a rice pilaf or crusty white bread.

ALGERIAN CHICKEN & PRESERVED LEMON BOUREK

Steps:

• In a medium sized casserole, heat the olive oil & gently fry the onion until pale golden. Add the chicken & fry for 15-20 minutes on a medium heat.
• Add your ras el hanout & the Season All, mix well & cook for a few minutes.
• Wash the preserved lemon really well (make sure to discard the flesh), then chop it very finely & add to the casserole. Cook for a few more minutes.
• Remove the casserole from the heat, add the coriander (cilantro) & allow to cool. Mix in the chopped eggs & re-season if required.
• Once the filling is cooled completely, you are ready to assemble the bourek.
• Make your flour paste by putting the flour in a bowl & gradually adding the water until you have a very runny paste - a bit like crepe batter.
• Lay 1 spring roll sheet on your work surface & place 2 generous teaspoonfulls of the filling onto the sheet. You need to place it in a line approx 1" up from the bottom of the sheet & the line of filling should have a fraction over 1" of spring roll sheet visable on both the left & right side.
• Next bring the left side of the sheet over the filling - it will overlap the filling by about an inch. Do the same with the right side.
• Take the bottom of the sheet in both hands & pull it up so that it covers the line of filling.
• With a pastry brush or the back of a teaspoon, brush a small amount of the flour paste along the edges of the sheet.
• Now start to roll the bourek, be careful to keep it tight & even. When you have rolled it up securely, you can brush a tiny amount of the paste along the seam so that the bourek stays closed whilst it is being fried.
• Repeat these steps with the remaining 35 spring roll sheets.
• Now you can either freeze the bourek or fry them in hot oil (I like to deep fry at approx 165-170c) in batches, until a deep golden colour & very crispy!

SLOW-COOKER MARRAKECH CHICKEN STEW WITH PRESERVED LEMON AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat a medium skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium-high heat. Add the cumin seed and stir until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat, add the coriander seed, and stir for 30 seconds. Scrape the spices into a mortar with a pestle or into a spice grinder and grind until the cumin and coriander are coarsely ground. Mix with the flour, salt, and pepper in a medium large mixing bowl and dredge the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour mixture; pat off the excess flour and reserve the mixture.
• Heat the oil in an extra-large skillet over medium-high heat; brown the chicken pieces on both sides, in batches, about 3 minutes per side, then transfer to a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.
• Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium. Add the onions and sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and the reserved seasoned flour mixture and stir until the flour is lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and chicken broth and stir until the sauce is slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest (but not the juice).
• Pour over the chicken and scatter the chopped preserved lemon over the top. Cover the cooker and cook for 2 to 3 hours on high, or 4 to 6 hours on low, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of one of the uppermost pieces of chicken registers 170°F. Keep warm for as long as 4 hours.
• Remove the chicken to a platter. Stir the lemon juice, parsley, and olives into the sauce, and spoon over the chicken.

PRESERVED LEMON ROAST CHICKEN WITH FREEKEH SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. In a bowl or food processor, combine the butter, preserved lemon and garlic to make a flavoured butter.
• Pat the chicken with kitchen paper, then fill the cavity with the bay, thyme, tarragon and flavoured butter, saving a little to spread over the thighs and breast. Season and roast in the oven for about 1 hr, basting every 20 mins or so with the preserved lemon butter and juices. It is cooked when the leg is wobbly when pulled from the body, and the juices run clear. Remove from the oven and leave to rest while you make the salad.
• Heat the olive oil in a high-sided frying pan or saucepan. Toast the freekeh for a few mins with the bay leaf. Cover with water, bring to the boil and skim off any scum. Simmer for 25-30 mins until cooked but still with a little bite. Rinse the freekeh under cold water, then drain and mix it with the herbs, broad beans, spring onions and radishes. Season and dress with olive oil, lemon juice and the juices from the bird poured over.

PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• 1. If you wish to soften the peel, soak the lemons in lukewarm water for 3 days, changing the water daily.
• 2. Quarter the lemons from the top to within 1/2 inch of the bottom, sprinkle salt on the exposed flesh, then reshape the fruit.
• 3. Place 1 tablespoon salt on the bottom of the mason jar. Pack in the lemons and push them down, adding more salt, and the optional spices between layers. Press the lemons down to release their juices and to make room for the remaining lemons. (If the juice released from the squashed fruit does not cover them, add freshly squeezed lemon juice - not chemically produced lemon juice and not water.*) Leave some air space before sealing the jar.
• 4. Let the lemons ripen in a warm place, shaking the jar each day to distribute the salt and juice. Let ripen for 30 days. To use, rinse the lemons, as needed, under running water, removing and discarding the pulp, if desired - and there is no need to refrigerate after opening. Preserved lemons will keep up to a year, and the pickling juice can be used two or three times over the course of a year.
• According to the late Michael Field, the best way to extract the maximum amount of juice from a lemon is to boil it in water for 2 or 3 minutes and allow it to cool before squeezing.
• Paula Wolfert shares her tips with Epicurious:
• •Located on Morocco's Atlantic coast, south of Casablanca and north of Essaouira, the city of Safi is known for its seafood specialties. •To most closely approximate the flavor of Moroccan lemons, Wolfert recommends Meyer lemons for this recipe. This lemon/mandarin orange hybrid, in season in January and February, has yellow-orange flesh, a smooth rind, and a sweeter flavor than other lemons. •To sterilize a mason jar for the lemons, place it upside down in a steamer and steam for 10 minutes. Using tongs (wrap the ends in rubber bands for a better grip), remove the hot jar and dry it upside down on a paper towel-lined baking sheet in a warm oven. To sterilize the jar's top, boil it in water for 5 minutes, then remove with tongs. For more information on home canning, click here. •When you're ready to use a lemon, remove it with clean utensils to avoid contaminating the inside of the jar with bacteria. This way, the remaining contents of the jar will not need to be refrigerated.

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH OLIVES AND PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Mix garlic, saffron, ginger, paprika, cumin and turmeric together. If not using kosher chicken, add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add pepper to taste. Rub chicken with mixture, cover, refrigerate and marinate 3 to 4 hours.
• Heat oil in heavy skillet. Add chicken, and brown on all sides. Remove to platter. Add onions to skillet, and cook over medium-low heat about 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Transfer to tagine, if you are using one, or leave in skillet. Add cinnamon stick.
• Put chicken on onions. Scatter with olives. Quarter the lemons, remove pulp and cut skin in strips. Scatter over chicken. Mix stock and lemon juice. Pour over chicken.
• Cover tagine or skillet. Place over low heat, and cook about 30 minutes, until chicken is done. Scatter parsley on top, and serve.

CHICKEN, PRESERVED LEMON & NEW POTATO TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Place the chicken pieces in a large roasting tin with the shallots and new potatoes. Mix together well with the olive oil, garlic and preserved lemon then season. Pour over the wine or stock. Cover tightly with foil and roast for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the pine nuts in a small roasting tin and place in the oven to toast for 4-5 minutes until golden. Set aside to cool. Place the herbs and cooled pine nuts in a food processor and blend to a coarse paste.
• Remove the tin from the oven and discard the foil. Roast for a further 40 minutes until the chicken is golden and thoroughly cooked, there is no pink meat and the juices run clear.
• Spoon the herb paste into the tin and toss well before serving. Delicious with green salad or seasonal vegetables.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH SAFFRON AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, turmeric, cumin seeds, salt, and pepper together in a bowl and pour into a resealable plastic bag or container. Add chicken, coat with the paste and seal bag or container. Marinate in the refrigerator, 4 hours to overnight.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Add chicken thighs skin-side down to stockpot and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken thighs and cook until browned on second side, about 3 minutes more.
• Lower heat to medium and add water to cover chicken halfway, cover stockpot, and cook for 20 minutes. Uncover stockpot, sprinkle saffron threads onto chicken, and top with preserved lemon slices. Replace cover and cook until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and juices run clear, about 5 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Uncover stockpot and transfer chicken to a serving platter.
• Continue simmering liquid in stockpot until thickened to sauce consistency, 5 to 7 minutes. Spoon sauce over chicken; top with olives, artichokes, and parsley.