Moroccan Chicken With Honey Fruit Recipes

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• Combine the spices in a small bowl and set aside. Zest the lemon. Combine 1 teaspoon of the lemon zest with 1 minced garlic clove; set aside.
• Season both sides of chicken pieces with 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or pan over medium-high heat until beginning to smoke. Brown the chicken pieces skin side down in single layer until deep golden, about 5 minutes; using tongs, flip the chicken pieces over and brown the other side, about 4 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a large plate; when cool enough to handle, peel off the skin and discard. Pour off and discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until they have browned at the edges but still retain their shape, 5 to 7 minutes (add a few tablespoons of water now and then if the pan gets too dark). Add the remaining minced garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the spices and flour and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broth, honey, remaining lemon zest, and ¼ teaspoon salt, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the chicken (with any accumulated juices) back in, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the carrots, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the carrots are tender-crisp, about 10 minutes more.
• Stir in the olives, reserved lemon zest-garlic mixture, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice; taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if desired. Serve with couscous.
• Note: Don't fret too much over trimming the chicken thighs. The skin gets removed midway through the cooking process and most of the fat will cook off and get drained. I usually just take kitchen shears and quickly snip off any excess skin or fat. Cracked green olives are olives that have been 'cracked' or split open before curing, allowing the brine or marinade to penetrate. You can find them in your supermarket's olive bar, or substitute any green olive that you like.
• Make-Ahead: After you have completed the step of cooking the carrots, the dish can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. To serve, gently warm on the stove until the chicken is heated through, then proceed to the step where the olives and remaining ingredients are added.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH HONEY & FRUIT

Steps:

• 1. Using a large heavy pot, brown the chicken in olive oil; then remove to a plate.
• 2. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft and translucent. Add cinnamon and ginger and allow the flavors to develop for 1 minute; then return the chicken to the pot. Add the lemon juice, stock and honey. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and gently cook for 1 hour.
• 3. When done, transfer the chicken to a platter and keep warm. Add the raisins and almonds to the pot and boil the liquid until it is reduced and slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper and additional lemon juice if desired. Garnish with parsley. Serve with couscous and a salad.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE WITH HONEY AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a large pot, melt the margarine.
• Fry the chopped onions until soft, then add the chicken, salt, pepper, turmeric and cinnamon sticks.
• Don't worry, no one will make you eat a cinnamon stick unless you really want to.
• Add enough water to cover the chicken, about two cups.
• Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the chicken is done, adding water if necessary.
• Remove the chicken pieces.
• Add the apricots and simmer for about fifteen minutes.
• Add the ground cinnamon and the honey, stir and cook until the sauce has a honey-like consistency.
• Add more honey if necessary.
• When the sauce is almost ready, saute the almonds in oil.
• Drain most of the oil from the pan, and toast the sesame seeds.
• Return the chicken to the pot and reheat.
• Place the chicken on a serving tray, pour the sauce on top of it and top with the almonds and the sesame seeds.
• Serve with couscous (except on Passover).

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH APRICOTS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Stir together ground cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add chicken and turn to coat well.
• Heat butter and 1 tablespoon oil in base of tagine (or in skillet), uncovered, over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then brown half of chicken, skin sides down, turning over once, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Brown remaining chicken in same manner, adding any spice mixture left in bowl.
• Add onion and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to tagine and cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Tie cilantro and parsley into a bundle with kitchen string and add to tagine along with 1/2 cup water, chicken, and any juices accumulated on plate. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 30 minutes.
• While chicken cooks, bring honey, remaining cup water, cinnamon stick, and apricots to a boil in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until apricots are very tender (add more water if necessary). Once apricots are tender, simmer until liquid is reduced to a glaze, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While apricots cook, heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in a small skillet over moderate heat and cook almonds, stirring occasionally, until just golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Ten minutes before chicken is done, add apricot mixture to tagine. Discard herbs and cinnamon stick, then serve chicken sprinkled with almonds on top.

MOROCCAN HONEY CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. Pat chicken dry, then season chicken with salt and pepper.
• 2. In a heavy-duty 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add chicken and cook about 15 minutes or until chicken is deep golden brown. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
• 3. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion to pan and cook about 4 minutes or until softened, stirring frequently. Add cumin, paprika, cinnamon, and flour, and cook about 1 minute longer, stirring constantly. Stir in broth and honey.
• 4. Return chicken to pan and simmer, uncovered, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer chicken to 4 individual serving plates.
• 5. Simmer sauce in pan for 3 minutes. Add the capers and lemon zest to the pan. Taste and add more salt and pepper (or other seasonings), if needed. Spoon sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with cilantro on top, and serve immediately.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH DRIED FRUIT AND HONEY

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add almonds; sauté until golden, about 8 minutes. Turn almonds out onto paper towels and drain. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add game hens, 2 cups water, chopped parsley, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until game hens are cooked through, turning once, about 35 minutes. Using tongs, transfer game hen pieces to bowl.
• Degrease pan juices. Add honey, dried fruit, and raisins and simmer until fruit is tender, about 15 minutes. Return hen pieces to sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated.) Rewarm game hens in sauce over medium-low heat. Transfer to large platter. Sprinkle with almonds.