Chicken Tagine With Eggplant and Olives

• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 chicken, cut in 10 pieces
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, quartered lengthwise
• 2 small eggplants, about 1 pound total, quartered lengthwise
• 3 garlic cloves, slivered
• 13 cup pitted black nicoise olives
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• Salt
• black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon, plus a few sprigs for garnish
• Rice or couscous for serving

1. On a plate, blend the cumin and paprika together.
2. Dip the chicken pieces in spices to coat both sides.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and brown chicken on both sides.
4. Remove.
5. Add the onions to the skillet and sear on cut sides until browned.
6. Remove.
7. Lower heat to medium and add remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
8. Lightly brown eggplant on cut sides.
9. Remove.
10. Add garlic and olives, cook until the garlic has softened, then add the stock and vinegar.
11. Bring to a simmer, deglazing the pan, then turn off the heat.
12. Coarsely chop the browned onions.
13. Scatter them in a terra-cotta tagine or in a saute pan with a cover, then lay the chicken pieces on top.
14. Chop the eggplant in 1-inch chunks and distribute them over the chicken.
15. Pour stock mixture, with olives and garlic, on top.
16. Season with salt and pepper and scatter chopped tarragon on top.
17. Cover the tagine or pan and cook on medium-low heat for 40 minutes.
18. Remove from heat and let rest 10 minutes.
19. Garnish with tarragon sprigs and serve with rice or couscous.

ground cumin, paprika, chicken, extra virgin olive oil, red onion, eggplants, garlic, black nicoise olives, chicken stock, sherry vinegar, salt, black pepper, tarragon, couscous

Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013520 (may not work)