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Savory Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons

moroccan chicken tagine preserved lemons - featured image
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A fragrant and tender Moroccan chicken tagine simmered with preserved lemons, olives, and warm spices, delivering authentic North African flavors in under 90 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium preserved lemon, rinsed and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup pitted green olives (about 150g)
  • 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth (360ml)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • A pinch of saffron threads soaked in 2 tablespoons warm water (optional)
  • A handful fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Soak a pinch of saffron threads in 2 tablespoons warm water for 10 minutes to release color and aroma.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a tagine or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
  3. Brown chicken skin-side down for 5-7 minutes until golden and crispy, then flip and brown the other side for 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium, add sliced onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add minced garlic, ground ginger, cumin, turmeric, and cinnamon. Stir and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
  6. Pour in soaked saffron with water and chicken broth. Stir in honey and bring to a simmer.
  7. Return chicken to pot, skin-side up. Scatter preserved lemon slices and green olives evenly over the top.
  8. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently for 45-50 minutes until chicken is tender and cooked through, adding water or broth if sauce dries out.
  9. Taste and adjust salt or honey as needed. Sprinkle chopped cilantro over the top before serving.
  10. Optional: Broil chicken for 2-3 minutes after cooking for extra crispy skin or simmer sauce uncovered to thicken if too thin.

Notes

Use organic, free-range chicken for best flavor. Rinse preserved lemons to reduce saltiness. Slow simmering is key to tender chicken and melding flavors. Broil briefly for crispy skin if desired. Sauce can be thickened by simmering uncovered after removing chicken.

Nutrition

Keywords: Moroccan chicken tagine, preserved lemons, North African recipe, slow cooked chicken, saffron chicken, easy tagine recipe, authentic Moroccan dish

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/savory-moroccan-chicken-tagine-with-preserved-lemons-easy-authentic-recipe/