Moroccan Chicken with Preserved Lemons
- 2 small whole chickens, about 21/2 lbs each, giblets reserved
- 1 lemon, quartered
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/3 cup minced parsley
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp powdered ginger
- 1/4 tsp saffron threads
- 1 preserved lemon, cut into small pieces
- cup olive oil
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp paprika
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup black or violet olives
- Preserved lemon peel, for garnish
- 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.
whole chickens, lemon, salt, cilantro, parsley, garlic, powdered ginger, threads, lemon, olive oil, onions, paprika, butter, black, lemon peel
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/moroccan-chicken-with-preserved-lemons-recipe.html (may not work)