The Best Chicken Tagine

The Best Chicken Tagine

This simple chicken tagine is great made a day before and left so the flavours can infuse – a one-pot wonder!

Serves 4

Prep time: 20 minutes (plus marinating & soaking time)

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

8-10 chicken thighs, skinned, boned & cut into bite-sized pieces

2tsp paprika

1tsp ground ginger

1tsp ground cumin

1tsp ground turmeric

½ tsp ground cinnamon

50g raisins

100g dried apricots, sliced

500ml chicken stock, hot

1tbsp olive oil

2 large onions, finely sliced

6 garlic cloves, peeled & finely chopped

Pinch of saffron, soaked in a splash of hot water

2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes

1tbsp tomato puree

1tbsp honey

To serve

50g flaked almonds, toasted

Handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped

250g couscous

Small handful of fresh mint, chopped

1 lemon, zest & juice

Preparation method

Place all the spices in a large bowl, add the chicken and toss until the chicken is fully covered. Cover the bowl with cling film and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or overnight.
In another bowl, add the raisins, apricots and pour over 200ml of the hot stock. Allow to soak for at least an hour, or overnight.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat, add the chicken in 2 batches. Brown the chicken and remove with a slotted spoon onto kitchen paper and set aside.
In the remaining oil, fry the onions over a medium heat for 5 minutes until soft, stir through the garlic for the final minute. Now add the saffron with the water, tomatoes, tomato puree, honey, fruit with liquid and the remaining 300ml of chicken stock. Bring the pan to a simmer, cook for 10 minutes and season to taste.
Now add the browned chicken and stir through. Cover partially and simmer for 20 minutes, stir occasionally until the chicken is cooked and the sauce has thickened.
Meanwhile, put the couscous in a large bowl and cover with 250ml boiling water. Cover with cling film and leave for 5 minutes. Use a fork to fluff up the couscous, mix in the mint, lemon juice & zest. Season to taste.
Serve the chicken tagine on top of a generous serving of couscous, top with a scattering of flaked almond and coriander. Enjoy!