Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Herbed Couscous

Name: Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Herbed Couscous
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound chicken thighs (boneless, skinless, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces); 1 yellow onion (medium, chopped); 2 clove garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger; 0.5 teaspoon turmeric powder; 0.25 teaspoon cinnamon; 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes (undrained); 0.5 cup chicken broth; 1 cup carrots (diced); 1 cup zucchini (diced); 0.25 cup dried apricots (chopped); 0.25 cup fresh cilantro (chopped); 1 cup instant couscous (uncooked); 1 cup boiling water; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon salt (to taste); 0.5 teaspoon black pepper (to taste); 2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)

Tender chicken and sweet root vegetables simmered in a rich, aromatic Moroccan spice blend, served with fluffy herb-infused couscous for a warming and deeply flavorful meal perfect for a cool evening.

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 1 hr
Total: 1 hr 25 min
Servings: 2
Cuisine: Moroccan
Difficulty: Medium
Cost: $6.11/serving

Dietary

Dairy-Free
Nut-Free
Soy-Free
Egg-Free
High-Protein
High-Fiber

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound chicken thighs (boneless, skinless, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces)
1 yellow onion (medium, chopped)
2 clove garlic (minced)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
0.5 teaspoon ground ginger
0.5 teaspoon turmeric powder
0.25 teaspoon cinnamon
0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
14.5 ounce diced tomatoes (undrained)
0.5 cup chicken broth
1 cup carrots (diced)
1 cup zucchini (diced)
0.25 cup dried apricots (chopped)
0.25 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
1 cup instant couscous (uncooked)
1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
0.5 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)

Instructions

Sear chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thigh pieces with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add chicken to the pot and sear until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
Sauté aromatics and spices: Add chopped yellow onion to the same pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground ginger, turmeric powder, cinnamon, and optional cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Simmer tagine: Stir in the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, diced carrots, diced zucchini, and chopped dried apricots. Return the seared chicken to the pot. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 45-50 minutes, or until chicken is tender and vegetables are soft.
Prepare couscous: About 10 minutes before the tagine is done, combine instant couscous, 1 cup boiling water, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley in a medium bowl. Stir well, then cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
Finish and serve: Stir 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro into the tagine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the Moroccan Chicken Tagine over the herbed couscous.

Notes

For a deeper flavor, you can let the tagine simmer longer on low heat, ensuring there's enough liquid. The flavors develop beautifully overnight.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 710
Protein: 52.3 g
Carbohydrates: 83.1 g
Fat: 19.8 g
Fiber: 12.3 g
Sodium: 890 mg
Saturated Fat: 3.4 g
Sugar: 23.2 g
Cholesterol: 138 mg