Moroccan Fare: Chicken Tagine With Couscous
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Servings:
Ingredients
  • 2 pound chicken with bone
  • 1 cup onion
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 1 red pepper
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup chickpeas
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup green olives
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 sprig coriander
  • 3 cup couscous
Directions
  1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a deep bottomed saucepan. Add the chicken and cook till brown on all sides
  2. Transfer into a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Leave to rest
  3. Lower the heat and in the same saucepan add the chopped onions and garlic. Stirring frequently, cook till light brown in color
  4. Add all the spices to the onions, stir well and continue to cook till fragrant
  5. Pour in the tomato paste and mix well. Stir for about 2-3 minutes
  6. Add the chicken stock to the mixture and stir till all the ingredients are combined
  7. Lower the heat as the stock begins to simmer and add the chicken, chickpeas, olives, juice of one lemon and red peppers
  8. Close the lid and let the sauce simmer on very low heat for about 20 minutes. Make sure not to let the sauce dry up. It should not be too runny or too thick, just medium consistency
  9. Once the sauce has simmered to your required consistency, switch off the heat and garnish with coriander
  10. For the couscous: Empty the contents of the couscous packet into a bowl and cover with boiling water, about 6 fl. oz. Add a pat of butter (optional). Mix well and let is stand for about 5 minutes till the water has been absorbed. Fluff the couscous with a fork and serve.
  11. Chicken Tagine with Couscous
  12. To get the best flavor, pour the sauce generously over the couscous, that is essentially how the Moroccans eat their food. It is the fragrant subtleties of this dish, where each spice pushes out its own distinct taste, that makes it a perfect foray into Moroccan cooking. This is one dish where the spices make up the flavor, for me the meat is just an addition. Healthy, low-fat, yet full of flavor; an ideal recipe to make for a weekend surprise or to kick start your week.