Chicken Algerian Recipes

CHTIT'HA DJEDJ (ALGERIAN CHICKEN IN SAUCE)

Steps:

• Finely chop onion and fry gently in 2tbs oil in large saucepan until starting to soften. Add the chicken and brown for 10 mins, add garlic, spices, salt, tomato puree and Harissa and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add stock, stir and bring to boil.
• Simmer for 30 mins or until chicken is cooked and add the chickpeas simmering for another 10 mins until the sauce has thickened.

ALGERIAN CHICKEN & CHICKPEA SOUP ( CHORBA / SHORBA)

Steps:

• Place oil in a large pan, add the chicken & fry to seal all over. Add the spices & fry for a minute more.
• Add all the other ingredients except the coriander / cilantro, chickpeas & the lemon juice. Bring to the boil then reduce heat, cover & simmer 1 hour.
• Add the chickpeas to the pan. Take the chicken from the pan & remove all the meat from the bones, shred & put back into the pan. Simmer for a further 20 minutes.
• If the soup is the consistency you like, you can add the coriander / cilantro & lemon juice now. Simmer for 1 minute, re-season if desired & then serve.
• If you feel the soup needs to be a little thicker, you can either reduce it down by cooking further or thicken with plain flour.

DJEDJ MECHOUI (ALGERIAN POULET ROTI/ROAST CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 450°F.
• Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and slide your fingers under the skin of the breast and thighs to loosen/separate it from the flesh.
• Mash the garlic with the salt, using a fork or a mortar and pestle.
• Work the garlic/salt paste into the butter and then work in the spices; using your fingers, spread the spiced butter into the cavities between the skin and the flesh of the chicken.
• Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the chicken; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Season the cavity with salt and pepper and place the four lemon halves and the thyme inside.
• Roast the chicken breast side down for 15 minutes.
• Turn the chicken breast side up and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Baste frequently, using additional water and olive oil as needed.
• If the skin begins to brown too soon, cover with foil (but remove the foil about 15 minutes before the roasting time is up).
• The chicken should be done in about 90 minutes; the skin between the breasts and the legs should become almost transparent, the legs should move easily in the socket, and any juices should be clear.
• Let rest before carving.
• Strain excess fat out of the cooking juices and squeeze in some lemon juice for a lovely flavor.
• Note: Zari suggests serving with orange salads dressed with pomegranate vinaigrette and carrot salads dressed with lemon, cumin and olive oil.

CHICKEN ALGERIAN

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper.
• In a large skillet, melt butter and add chicken, brown on both sides.
• Remove from skillet; add broth.
• Over low heat, scrape particles from bottom of skillet then add garlic, eggplant, onion and tomatoes; sprinkle with remaining salt, thyme and parsley.
• Return chicken to skillet; cover and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes.

ALGERIAN CHICKEN AND OLIVE STEW

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium high heat; add chicken and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in butter, garlic, saffron, and cilantro; cook another 10 minutes, stirring, to be sure garlic and spices evenly coat the chicken.
• Add water and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until chicken is tender, about 25 minutes.
• Stir in olives and lemon juice; simmer 8 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper; serve over couscous or rice.

ALGERIAN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine broth, bouillon, chopped chicken, onion, green beans, carrots, cumin, basil, garlic, bay leaves, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and cook about 8 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and zucchini and cook briefly.
• Add garbanzo beans and red pepper.
• Cover and cook until heated through.
• Serve over steaming bowls of couscous.