Tunisian Style Chicken Thighs Recipes

TUNISIAN-STYLE CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Coat a 9 x 13-inch roasting pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Combine all the ingredients for the marinade (pepper through white wine) and mix thoroughly.
• Place 1/3 of the marinade in prepared roasting pan. Add the chicken on top of the marinade then cover with the remaining marinade mixture.
• Cover and allow to marinate for at least 60 minutes (all day in the refrigerator is better).
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Uncover the pan and transfer to oven.
• Bake 45 minutes, turning occasionally to brown the chicken all over.
• Transfer the chicken pieces to a serving plate. Garnish with parsley lemon slices and green olives.
• Serve with hot, cooked rice or cooked couscous.

TAJINE MALSOUKA -- TUNISIAN CHICKEN 'TAGINE' PHYLLO PIE

Steps:

• In a frying pan, fry the onion in a little of the vegetable oil for a few minutes until it is softened. Add the chicken & the water, cover then cook for 45 minutes in a medium heat or until the chicken is cooken through, turning the thighs from time to time.
• Preheat oven to 190c / 375f/ GM5.
• Discard the chicken skin, remove the meat from the bones & place the pieces in a bowl.
• Pour the saffron or ground nutmeg paste over the chicken, then stir in the grated cheese and 2-3 tbsp of water to make an 'unctous mixture'. Stir in the beaten eggs & season with the salt & pepper to taste.
• Generously oil an ovenproof pie or quiche dish about the same zie as the rounds of phyllo. Overlap 5 sheets so that at least 1/3 of the phyllo is allowed to hang over the sides of the dish, remembering to lightly brush each sheet with the vegetable oil. Place a final 6th piece of phyllo over the top of the others - this one should be central so that it reinforces the base a little.
• Pour in most of the chicken mixture, followed by a layer of sliced ricotta then a final layer of the chicken.
• Fold the overhanging phyllo pastry over the top so that is wrapped but not too tight. Stick the edges together using a pastry brush & the glaze. Place another sheet of phyllo on top, tucking the edges into the dish, followed by 4 more sheets of phyllo, being sure to brush them with the glaze as you go. Finish by brushing more g;ase on the top.
• Place the tagine on a low shelf in the oven for around 20-25 minutes. The pastry should be crisp & deep golden when the dish is ready.
• Serve hot, on a flat dish & cut into slices as you would a cake.

BAKED ITALIAN CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
• Season chicken thighs on both sides with garlic powder and salt.
• Heat olive oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs, smooth-side down in pan and brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip thighs over and remove skillet from heat. Top each thigh with an equal amount of ricotta cheese mixture. Spoon marinara sauce over the ricotta cheese and around the chicken thighs.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from the oven and leave oven on.
• Top chicken with mozzarella cheese and return to the oven until cheese has melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.

TUNISIAN BAKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash and pat chicken dry. Combine flour, salt and pepper on wax paper. Turn chicken into flour mixture, coat evenly. Shake off excess.
• Sauté chicken, a few pieces at a time, in oil in a large skillet. Remove the pieces to a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish as they brown, arranging them in a single layer.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add onion, garlic, cumin, paprika and cayenne to skillet. Sauté until onion is slightly softened.
• Stir in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a boil and pour over chicken.
• Arrange lemon slices on top. Cover. Bake in preheated oven 40 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with olives.
• Bake, uncovered, 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve.