Moroccan Lemon Chicken Recipes

MOROCCAN LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the spice mix; cumin, coriander, onion powder, garlic, paprika, pepper, and salt. Set aside.
• Evenly coat both sides of the chicken breast with a ½ teaspoon of the spice mix on each side (1 teaspoon total).
• Add ¼ cup olive oil to a large sauté pan and heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the sliced onions and garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring continuously then move to the side of the pan.
• Add tomatoes and cook until blistered, about 3 minutes then transfer to a bowl.
• Place the four pieces of chicken in the center of the pan. Add the sprigs of rosemary and thyme so the flavor of the herbs infuse into the cooking oil.
• Sauté the chicken breasts for 4 minutes, until the surface is nicely browned.
• Lower heat to medium, flip over and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160F - 165°F.
• Turn off the heat and squeeze half of a whole lemon over the chicken in the pan.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and serve with your favorite sides.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Stir in parsley, cilantro: Mix in fresh parsley and cilantro right before serving. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve with couscous, rice, or rice pilaf .

STOVETOP MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH PRESERVED LEMON AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Ahead of time if possible, combine the chicken with the onion, garlic, herbs, and spices, including half of the saffron. (Reserve the rest of the saffron for adding to the sauce at a later time.) If time allows, cover and leave the chicken to marinate in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
• When ready to cook, transfer the chicken and onions (scrape every last bit out of your bowl) to a heavy-bottomed pot, deep skillet or Dutch oven. Cover and cook the chicken over medium or medium-low heat, gently stirring and turning the chicken every 15 minutes or so, until the chicken is tender enough to pinch off the bones. (This will take approximately one hour, but longer if using a free range chicken). Keep the heat adjusted so that the chicken doesn't scorch, and only add a little water if you feel you must. Typically the chicken will braise in its own juices.
• When the chicken is cooked, carefully transfer it to a plate and cover.
• Continue cooking the onion mixture and sauce over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquids evaporate and the onions can be mashed into a blended mass which separates from the oils. If your onions do not appear to be melding, you can give a few pulses with an immersion blender, but do not overprocess.
• Add the preserved lemon, olives, the rest of the saffron, and a few tablespoons of water, and simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes. Return the chicken to the pot to heat through, or place under the broiler to brown the skin.
• Place the chicken on a serving platter, pour the onion sauce over the top and sides, and garnish the top of the chicken with the quartered lemon and some olives.
• For casual meals, consider garnishing the chicken with a handful or two of french fries (patate frite), which may also be offered as a traditional side.
• Moroccan tradition is to eat by hand, using crusty Moroccan bread for soaking up the sauce.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Remove excess fat from chicken, rinse well inside and out and pat dry. Rub chickens with lemon inside and out and under skin of breasts. Rub with sea salt and set aside to marinate in a nonreactive baking dish, covered and refrigerated, overnight. Next day, rinse chickens again and pat dry.
• In a flameproof casserole large enough to hold both chickens combine cilantro, parsley, garlic, ginger, saffron, preserved lemon and pepper to taste. Add 1/4 cup water and chickens, turning to coat thoroughly, and rubbing some of the mixture inside. Add reserved giblets, except livers. Pour oil over and bring to a simmer over low heat. When chicken begins to sizzle, add onions, cover and cook for 30 minutes. Add livers and paprika and continue to cook, covered, 1 hour more.
• Remove chickens to a carving board and let rest, covered loosely with foil, while you finish the sauce. Cut giblets into small pieces and return to sauce. Using a fork, crush livers into sauce to thicken. Sauce should be thick -- if it is thin, boil until reduced and thickened. Add butter and olives. Heat, swirling pan, until sauce is emulsified. To serve, cut chickens into quarters and arrange on a warmed platter. Spoon sauce over and garnish with lemon peel.

MOROCCAN LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a 3-quart heavy saucepan heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Cook chicken, skin side down, until skin is deep golden brown. Transfer chicken to a plate and reduce heat to moderate. Add onion to pan and cook, stirring, until softened. Add cumin, paprika, cinnamon, zest, and flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in broth, olives and honey.
• Return chicken to pan and simmer, uncovered, 8 minutes. Transfer chicken to 2 plates. Add chick peas to sauce. Simmer sauce 3 minutes and season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken and sprinkle with coriander.
• Serve chicken with rice.

MOROCCAN LEMON CHICKEN WITH OLIVES

Steps:

• In food processor, finely chop onion & garlic.
• Dredge chicken in flour.
• In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat, then saute chicken & onion mixture until mixture has softened, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in 1/2 cup water, the saffron, ginger, cumin, paprika, salt & lemon zest.
• Bring to boil, then reduce heat & simmer, covered, 35 minutes.
• Remove chicken from sauce & allow to cool a few minutes.
• Cut chicken into small pieces, then put meat back into sauce.
• To the sauce add lemon juice, olives, cilantro & pepper, & simmer gently 5 minutes.
• While chicken is cooking, in a medium saucepan bring 3/4 cup of water to a boil.
• Add couscous & bring back to a boil, then remove from heat & allow to sit for 5 minutes.
• Spoon chicken mixture over couscous & serve.

LEMON MOROCCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Chop the onion and garlic finely, using a food processor, (if avaiable). Add the next seven ingredients (olive oil, tomato paste, ground cumin, ground paprika, ground ginger, salt and lemon juice) and mix to a thick paste.
• Place the chicken in a shallow casserole dish and cover with paste mixture. Turn the chicken pieces, ensuring they are evenly coated with the mixture. Add the remaining lemon, cut lengthways into eighths, and the olives.
• If possible, allow to stand for 1-2 hours (or overnight in the fridge). Bake at 180oC for 1 hour, covered loosely for the first 30 minutes, then uncovered.
• Serve with plain rice or spicy pilaf.
• Sprinkle coriander once the dish has been served in single serving plates.
• Variations: For a less lemoney flavour use strips of lemon rind instead of lemon wedges. Replace lemon wedges with the skin of one preserved salted lemon, if availabe.

MOROCCAN LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a heavy 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over moderately high heat until hot, but not smoking.
• Pat chicken dry& season with salt& pepper.
• Cook chicken, skin side down until skin turns golden brown.
• Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Reduce heat to moderate& add onion.
• Cook, stirring until softened.
• Add cumin, paprika, cinnamon, lemon zest and flour.
• Cook, stirring 1 minute.
• Stir in the chicken broth, olives and honey.
• Return chicken to the pan and simmer, uncovered about 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
• Add chickpeas and simmer about 3 minutes.