walton_eats

O.M.G. So good.

Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Preserved Lemons
Mostly adapted from a recipe in Fine Cooking.

This recipe can also be made using a tagine.

Serves 4

Ingredients

* 1 medium-large onion, finely diced (to yield about 1-1/2 cup)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* About 10 sprigs fresh cilantro, leaves and stems finely chopped; more chopped leaves for garnish
* Small bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley (about 8 sprigs), leaves and stems finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon paprika
* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
* Small pinch saffron (about 10 threads), crushed
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 3-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
* 1-1/2 preserved lemons, most of the pulp removed; the rind cut into thin strips
• 1 cup pitted green olives, cut in half
• 1 cup chicken broth

Procedure

1. In a large bowl, mix the onion, garlic, herbs, and spices; this mixture is called a charmoula.

2. In a deep skillet or a Dutch oven, heat the oil on medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in two batches until browned on all sides, about 3 minutes per side, transferring the pieces to the bowl with the charmoula as they're done. Pour off and discard most of the oil in the pan, leaving a film on the bottom. Toss the chicken to coat it with the charmoula.

3. Pour 1/4 cup chicken broth into the pan over medium heat and scrape up any browned bits to help them dissolve. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chicken so it's in a single layer (a little overlap is fine). Scrape out the bowl of charmoula, adding the contents to the pan. Add 3/4 cup chicken broth and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
4. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the preserved lemon strips and olives to the sauce. Cover and simmer, turning the chicken occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and very tender and the onion and herbs have melted into the sauce, 30 to 40 minutes. If it's not yet saucy but the liquid is evaporating, add more chicken broth and continue cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Simmer the sauce uncovered so it has some body, about 3 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and sprinkle with chopped cilantro leaves.

Serve with couscous cooked in chicken broth (1 box couscous, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 tablespoon butter – bring chicken broth and butter to a boil, stir in couscous, cover, remove from heat, let stand five minutes, fluff with fork), or brown basmati rice.

A great recipe for preserved lemons can be found here. It's the recipe I use, and it's fantastic. If you can get Meyer lemons, use them. They're perfect.