Vegetable Tagine With Olives And Prunes Food

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH PRUNES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Dry chicken and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large, heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, to very hot. Add chicken (in batches if necessary) skin side down, and sear until skin is golden brown. Remove chicken when browned (do not turn it) and set aside.
• Discard all but a thin film of fat from the pan. Add onion and garlic and sauté on low until soft. Stir in paprika and cumin, cook about a minute and then add prunes, olives, stock and butter. Cook, stirring, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer contents of pan to a 12- to 14-inch tagine, sauté pan or casserole. Place chicken on top, skin side up.
• Cover and cook on medium-low heat about 40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately or set aside to be reheated. To serve, scatter lemon zest and mint over the chicken, squeeze juice of the lemon on top and bring tagine to the table covered.

LAMB TAGINE WITH PRUNES, APRICOTS, AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cut lamb from bones, reserving bones, then cut meat into 1-inch pieces.
• Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a flameproof wide shallow casserole with a tight-fitting lid over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Brown meat on all sides in 2 batches, transferring to a plate as browned. Brown bones and transfer to plate.
• Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to the casserole and cook onion, stirring, until softened. Return meat and bones to pot. Stir in water, saffron, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, until lamb is tender, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Transfer the lamb to a clean plate and add any meat from lamb bones, discarding bones. Add carrots and sweet potato to pot, then simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are barely tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add ginger, cinnamon, prunes, apricots, and squash, simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables and fruits are tender, about 5 minutes. Return lamb to stew and add honey. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.

VEGETABLE TAGINE WITH OLIVES AND PRUNES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a Dutch oven heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the shallots, celery, garlic and cinnamon stick and cook, stirring, untill the shallots and celery are soft (about 7 minutes).
• Add the paprika, cumin, coriander, cardamom, salt, black papper and cayenne. Continue cooking until the spices are fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the tomatoes, string beans, squash or sweet potato, cauliflower, fennel and carrot. Add additional vegetable broth or water as needed to cover the vegetables. Addf the saffron and stir well.
• Cover the pot and bake until the vegetables are tender, 40 to 45 minutes. About 5 minutes before the stew is done add the chickpeas, olives and prunes. Garnish with parsley just before serving.
• Note: The type of tomatoes used will determine the amount of broth or water that will be needed. Crushed tomatoes require the addition of about 1 cup water. Stovetop cooking may require slightly more water.
• The dish should be on the dry side, not soupy and the vegetables should be tender and not soggy.