Tajine Msir Zeetoon Moroccan Chicken With Lemons Recipes

TAJINE MSIR ZEETOON - MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH LEMONS

Steps:

• Combine the chicken with cumin, paprika, ginger, turmeric, garlic, coriander, lemon juice and peppers, and place in a baking dish in a single layer.
• Leave to marinate for 30 mins, then add the flour, and toss together to cost well.
• Heat the oven to 160oC/325oF/ Gas Mark 3. Add the chopped tomatoes, olives, lemon wedges, olive oil and stock to the dish.
• Bake uncovered for about an hour or until the chick is tender and a delicious sauce has formed.
• Note on olives: You need to have 10-15 each of three types in total you can choose green olives of your choice, black olives, cracked olives, oil-cured olives, purplish-red olives, Kalamata, pimiento-stuffed green olives, etc.

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.

CHICKEN TAJINE WITH PRESERVED LEMON AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Chermoula Marinade: In a small bowl add saffron threads in water and allow to soak for a few minutes.
• In a food processor add all the 'Chermoula marinade' ingredients and combine until it forms a paste.
• Cover and allow 'Chermoula marinade' to stand for 30 minutes before using. (Chermoula marinade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to seven days).
• Wash and dry the chicken, then rub all over with half of the chermoula marinade and refrigerate overnight or for at least two hours.
• After marinating, cut tomato and onion into thin wedges and combine a little more chermoula marinade. Then spread the tomato and onion into the base of the tajine.
• Place the chicken pieces on top of tomato and onion mixture arranging them in the centre of the tajine.
• Coat potato wedges with the chermoula marinade and arrange the potatoes around chicken.
• Top the chicken with onion slices, then tomato slices and olives in between the potato wedges.
• Mix chopped coriander/cilantro with remaining chermoula marinade and water (you made add less water, it depends how much your tajine could hold). Pour mixture on top of tomatoes and onions.
• Top with preserved lemon wedges then cover tajine with lid. Cook on a very low gas heat for 45 minutes. Do not stir or lift the lid during the cooking process.
• Serve with suggested couscous.

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.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAJINE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the garlic, cumin, ginger, paprika, salt and pepper, 1/2 cup grated onion, and the oil.
• Rinse the preserved lemons, and remove the pulp. RESERVE the lemon peel for later use.
• Add the lemon pulp to the mixing bowl. Add the chicken. Mix everything together and place in a large plastic bag to marinate overnight in the refrigerator. (Twenty-four hours really gives the chicken the best flavor.)
• In a large Dutch oven or casserole, place the chicken and marinade; add the stems of the parsley and cilantro, the rest of the grated onion, the powdered saffron and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, turn down to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes.
• Remove the cover, stir the chicken and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes or until the chicken is tender.
• Remove the chicken to a serving dish and cover with foil to keep warm. Keep sauce on stove and begin to reduce.
• Slice the preserved lemon peel into thin slices and add to the sauce along with the olives, parsley and cilantro. Reduce until the sauce is just a little thick. This shouldn't take more than 5 minutes at most.
• Uncover the chicken and remove the skin from the chicken. (It doesn't look pretty and who needs the extra fat.) Pour sauce over chicken and serve.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH PRESERVED LEMONS AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine the lemon juice, honey, garlic. turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper in a large glass or ceramic dish. Add the chicken and turn over so that it is thoroughly coated with the marinade. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least three hours, preferably overnight, to develop the flavours.
• Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and reserve the marinade.
• Place the chicken and the preserved lemon in a roasting pan.
• Roast in a preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
• Transfer the chicken and lemon to serving plate.
• Wipe the pan with paper towels to remove any fat, add the reserved marinade and 1/2 a cup of the stock and bring to the boil over a high heat.
• Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
• Remove from the heat.
• Heat a small sauté pan over a medium heat, add the almonds and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until toasted.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over a medium heat, add the onion and chilli and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until both have softened.
• Add the remaining stock and bring to the boil.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add the couscous and stir to combine. Cover and set aside for 5 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.
• Use a fork to separate the grains.
• Add the marinade mixture, almonds and currants to the couscous, and cook, stirring, over a low heat for 2 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed.
• Remove from the heat.
• Carve the chicken across the grain into thick slices, spoon the couscous among the serving plates, sprinkle with coriander, top with chicken and serve with baked lemon wedges.