Chicken Tagine with Apricots, Raisins, and Almonds
- 1 4-pound chicken, quartered, (see Notes)
- Salt
- Pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium-size onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric or 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh
- 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup dried apricots cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 1/2 cup white raisins
- 1 teaspoon saffron threads or 1/4 teaspoon powdered saffron
- Half of 1 10-ounce box plain couscous
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted in a 350F oven for 10 minutes, until they turn pale brown and smell fragrant
- Harissa
- SEASON the chicken parts with salt and pepper and brown them for about 8 minutes on the skin side and 5 minutes on the flesh side, over high heat, in olive oil, in a heavy-bottomed pot just large enough to hold them in a single layer.
- Transfer to a plate and reserve.
- POUR all but 1 tablespoon of fat out of the pan, and stir in the onion and garlic.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring every couple of minutes, until the onion turns translucent but doesnt brown, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves and stir over medium heat for 1 minute moreuntil you smell the fragrance of the spices.
- Pour over the broth and scrape against the bottom of the pot to dissolve any caramelized juices.
- Sprinkle over the apricots, raisins, and saffron, and put the chicken back in the pan.
- Cover the pot and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Simmer the chicken for 15 minutes after the broth has reached the simmeronce the chicken pieces feel firm to the touch, dont cook them any more.
- Take the chicken out of the broth with tongs to let cool.
- Use a ladle to skim off any fat that has floated to the top of the broth.
- Turn the heat off under the pot.
- Take the chicken off the bones in strips and put it in the pot with the broth.
- Prepare the couscous according to the directions on the package.
- Sprinkle over the almonds and bring the soup back to the simmer.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.
- Serve the couscous at the table or put a mound in each bowl of soup.
- Pass the harissa at the table.
salt, pepper, olive oil, onion, garlic, ground turmeric, ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, chicken broth, white raisins, saffron threads, couscous, almonds
Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/chicken-tagine-with-apricots-raisins-and-almonds (may not work)