Chicken Tajine With Apricots Recipe (2024)

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I've always had a soft spot for food or ingredients from other cultures. I feel like they can bring you anywhere simply from the flavors and the aromas of the herbs and spices blended with the meat, fish, or vegetables. It’s almost like traveling to a new place without leaving the comfort of your kitchen.

Chicken Tajine With Apricots Recipe (1)

The following recipe is a perfect example of this. It's a Moroccan inspired dish that's so flavorful and so different than the usual stew that you’ll probably almost feel like you’re standing in Casablanca.

In my house, this recipe always has everyone asking for more, and some even asking for my recipe. Today I finally decided to post it and share that recipe with everybody.

Tajines, or tagines, are stews that are slow-cooked at a low temperature and are mostly seen in Moroccan cuisine. They're usually cooked in a traditional clay or ceramic vessel called a tagine.

This time around, I used a conventional skillet with a cover, but a sauté pan could do the job as well. However, it's really important to keep it covered while it cooks to keep the moisture fromescaping.

The chicken tagine recipe has so many to offer in terms of flavors, and it has a lot to do with the spices that are used throughout the recipe.

Cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and paprika are just a few of the spices you will combine to complete this recipe. The way the chicken is slowly cooked in aflavorfulliquid makes it very tender and tasty.

Like many other Moroccan recipes, this one includes dried fruits. It’s always a good idea to prepare your own dried fruits, but if you don’t have the time or the right tools to do your own, make sure to buy natural dried fruits with no additional ingredients and not chemically dried ones.

Dried fruits can be quite sugary by nature, but they still provide all the nutrients found in fruits, like vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and magnesium.

The main difference compared to regular fruits is their lack of water, obviously, so it can be easy to eat too much at once. This shouldn't be a problem when added in small quantities in recipes like this one.

Chicken Tajine with apricots recipe

SERVES: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs;
  • 2 onions;
  • 1 fennel bulb;
  • 8 dried apricots;
  • A large handful of raisins;
  • 2 cloves garlic minced;
  • 1 teaspoon cumin;
  • 1tsp coriander;
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric;
  • 1 teaspoon dried ginger;
  • 1 teaspoon paprika;
  • Fresh coriander to taste;
  • 3 cups water;
  • 4 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil;
  • Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste;
Chicken Tajine With Apricots Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Take all 8 chicken thighs and remove the skin.
  2. Cut a straight line in each of the (pieces) chicken tight.
  3. Put all the chicken in a bowl and add 2 tablespoon of olive oil.
  4. Add all the spices and the minced garlic to the chicken except the fresh coriander and mix it all until the pieces are all covered.
  5. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about two hours. This step is optional but recommended to achieve a more flavorful chicken.
  6. While the chicken is in the refrigerator, cut the onions and fennel into small chunks.
  7. Once the chicken is ready, on a stove top at medium heat, add 2 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet, and cook it for about three minutes on each side until all the sides are golden brown. Here the chicken doesn't need to be cooked through.
  8. Add the onions and the fennel and sauté for about 2 or 3 minutes.
  9. Add all the remaining ingredients.
  10. Cover up and cook for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
  11. Verify the chicken once in a while and add water if necessary to keep it moist.

📖 Recipe

Chicken Tajine with apricots recipe

A Moroccan inspired dish with chicken thighs slowly cooked in a great combination of herbs, spices, dried fruits and vegetables.

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Moroccan

Servings 4 people

Calories 745 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Take all 8 chicken thighs and remove the skin.

    8 chicken thighs

  • Cut a straight line in each of the (pieces) chicken tight.

  • Put all the chicken in a bowl and add 2 tablespoon of olive oil.

    4 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • Add all the spices and the minced garlic to the chicken except the fresh coriander and mix it all until the pieces are all covered.

    2 cloves garlic minced, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1 teaspoon paprika

  • Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about two hours. This step is optional but recommended to achieve a more flavorful chicken.

  • While the chicken is in the refrigerator, cut the onions and fennel into small chunks.

    2 onions, 1 fennel bulb

  • Once the chicken is ready, on a stove top at medium heat, add 2 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet, and cook it for about three minutes on each side until all the sides are golden brown. Here the chicken doesn’t need to be cooked through.

    4 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • Add the onions and the fennel and sauté for about 2 or 3 minutes.

    2 onions, 1 fennel bulb

  • Add all the remaining ingredients.

    8 dried apricots, A large handful of raisins, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon dried ginger, Fresh coriander to taste, Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

  • Cover up and cook for about 1 to 1.5 hours.

  • Verify the chicken once in a while and add water if necessary to keep it moist.

    3 cups water

Nutrition

Calories: 745kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 46gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 199mgPotassium: 1112mgFiber: 5gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 1881IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 4mg

Keyword apricot, chicken, tajine

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Chicken Tajine With Apricots Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with chicken tagine? ›

Tagine is frequently served over couscous. Plain couscous is fine though it's really nice with a little sprinkle of dried fruit and/or nuts littered throughout, or a spritz of fresh lemon. You'll find various flavouring options in the couscous recipe.

What temperature do you cook a tagine at in the oven? ›

Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a tagine, Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with a tightfitting lid, warm 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat until hot. Working in batches, add lamb to pot, leaving room around each piece (this will help them brown). Cook until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.

What is chicken tagine made of? ›

Chicken tagine is a traditional Moroccan dish of chicken pieces braised with spices, garlic, onion, olives, and preserved lemons. It's company-worthy yet easy to throw together. Chicken tagine is a traditional Moroccan dish of chicken braised with spices, garlic, onion, olives, and preserved lemons.

How to cook with tagine? ›

How do you cook with a tagine pot?
  1. Line the bottom. Create a cushion at the bottom of the tagine using vegetables like onions, celery, carrots, as well as cloves of garlic. ...
  2. Add olive oil. ...
  3. Add meat and vegetables. ...
  4. Add garnishes and spices. ...
  5. Add water or broth. ...
  6. Cook. ...
  7. Serve.
Sep 10, 2021

What makes a good tagine? ›

Cast Iron: A durable cast-iron tagine is a great option for less-experienced cooks, since they don't crack or burn as easily as clay. They cook well over very high heat, too, and can even be thrown in the oven if you run out of space on the stovetop.

What type of tagine is best? ›

Cast iron is more durable and versatile. This type of tagine is usually more expensive but is good for those who want a multi-purpose pot since it can be used on a stovetop without a diffuser, and some can go straight from the freezer to the oven.

How long does a tagine take to cook? ›

How Long Does It Take To Cook A Perfect Tagine? At the camp we cook all of our tagines on charcoal braziers; they normally take around 1.5 hrs. You can also cook them on the hob, just make sure you don't turn the heat up too high – a tagine should be cooked on a low to medium-low heat.

Can you overcook a tagine? ›

One secret to a stellar tagine is cooking the meat to just the right stage, almost falling off the bone, but not quite. Remember that even a stew can become overcooked and stringy, so pull the meat as soon as it is ready. Another is to check in to monitor its progress from time to time.

How long does tagine take? ›

Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender, 1 ½ to 2 hours. If the consistency of tagine is too thin, you may thicken it with cornstarch and water slurry during the last 5 minutes. Serve over couscous.

What is the flavor of tagine? ›

The classic flavors found in tagines include parsley and cilantro, which are also used daily in many different Moroccan dishes, dried ginger, cumin, coriander, saffron, cinnamon, paprika, chiles, and Ras al hanoot which is a spice blend that contains between 20 and 40 different herbs and spices.

How is tagine traditionally made? ›

Traditionally the ingredients were packed into the pot, the lid was popped on tight, then it was cooked slowly over a smouldering charcoal fire. At home it's cooked slowly in the oven or on the stovetop. There are many types of tagines, but they all work the same way.

Can you put tagine directly on stove? ›

You can use a tagine on an electric stove. However, you will need to use a diffuser. A diffuser sits between the pot and the electric stove and helps to distribute the heat more evenly, preventing the pot from over-heating. Without a diffuser, your tagine may not cook evenly.

What else can you cook in a tagine? ›

Tagines are usually made with chicken or lamb, but almost any protein can be used in place of the classic options. This flavorful recipe calls for swordfish steaks, which match perfectly with the dish's Moroccan spices.

What is a good side for Moroccan chicken? ›

What to Serve Along? I often serve this Moroccan chicken tagine with plain couscous (super easy to make following the package instructions). You can try your favorite grain or Lebanese rice instead, if you like. And to start the meal, simply serve a fresh Mediterranean salad.

What does tagine come with? ›

Algerian and Moroccan tajine

Common spices include ginger, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and saffron. Paprika and chili are used in vegetable tajines. The sweet and sour combination is common in tajine dishes like lamb with prunes and spices. Tajines are generally served with bread.

What to pair with Moroccan food? ›

Common ingredients in many savory dishes are figs, raisins, nuts and turmeric which pair well with fruity whites and less complex, softer reds such as Merlot, Beaujolais or Pinot Noir (right). Lamb is generally the meat of choice and is prepared in myriad different ways.

References

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