Chicken Tagine with Olives and Lemon is an authentic Moroccan dish that includes a small pinch of saffron that gives it a very subtle but distinctive flavor that’s quite unique.
Traditionally Chicken Tagine is made with preserved lemons, but as they can be hard to find I’ve opted to simply marinate the chicken in lemon juice instead.
What is Chicken Tagine?
Chicken Tagine is simply a slow cooked stew that is flavored with various warming spices often including coriander, saffron, turmeric, and sometimes cinnamon. Usually preserved lemons and olives are added toward the end of the cook time.
Tagine refers to the traditional earthenware cooking pot that has a wide base and a funnel shaped lid with a hole in the top to let the steam out.
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Step by Step Guide to Making Chicken Tagine
The first thing you need to do is mix up the garlic, olive oil and lemon juice and marinate the chicken in it for at least 30 minutes but preferably longer to allow the salt and other flavors to permeate through the meat. Don’t skip the marinating time, this is essential for adding great flavor to your chicken!
Just before you are ready to cook it you need to saute the red onion and ginger in a little oil for a few minutes until it become soft.
Then, simply add the coriander, turmeric and saffron to the onion and ginger mixture and stir well to combine. Go easy on the saffron, you only need a little pinch or you may end up overwhelming the chicken tagine.
lastly, simply add half the onion mixture to the base of the slow cooker, and layer the chicken on top and cover with the remaining onions and 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Use a quality Chicken broth, it will make all the difference to your finished recipe.
I don’t like to overcook my chicken so it’s essential you know how your slow cooker works, the newer models run hotter than the older ones so it may only take 3hrs for it to cook on the high setting.
Kitchen Equipment Used to Make Chicken Tagine
Slow Cooker – it’s really easy to cook in a crockpot and you can buy a programmable model very cheaply.
Dutch Oven – I have several dutch ovens, it’s my favorite way to oven bake casseroles.
Sharp Knife – I have a large kitchen knife that is similar to this one.
Cutting Board – You can’t go wrong with this set of cutting boards, and you can wash them in the dishwasher.
Related Recipes
Chicken Tagine
Easy Chicken Tagine with authentic ingredients and great flavor!
Ingredients
CHICKEN TAGINE MARINADE
- 4 chicken thighs , bone in, skin on
- 4 chicken drumsticks , bone in, skin on
- 4 cloves garlic , crushed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
MARINATING THE CHICKEN TAGINE
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mix together the chicken pieces, crushed garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and let it marinate for 30 minutes and up to 4hrs.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TAGINE
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Saute the red onion and ginger over a medium low heat for about 5 minutes.
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Add the coriander, turmeric and saffron to the onions and stir well to combine.
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Add half the onion mixture to the base of the slow cooker then add the chicken thighs and drumsticks. Cover with the remaining onion mixture and add 1/2 cup chicken broth or water.
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Cook the chicken thighs and drumsticks on high for 3-4hrs or low for 5-7hrs.
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When the chicken is cooked add the olives and honey (if you are using honey) and let them warm through for about 30 minutes.
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Serve over cauliflower rice with chopped cilantro and lemon wedges.
OVEN BAKED CHICKEN TAGINE
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Add the cooked onions to your Dutch Oven, then add the chicken thighs and drumsticks. Cover with the remaining onion mixture and add 1/2 cup chicken broth or water.
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Bake in a 350 oven for about 45-50 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
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When the chicken is cooked add the olives and honey (if you are using honey) and warm for about 5 -10 minutes.
LOW CARB WHOLE 30 VERSION
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Simply omit the honey to make it whole30 compliant and it lower the carb count to about 5g net carbs per serving.
You could halve the amount of onion to further lower the carbs, however I have not made the recipe like this or calculated the carbs for it.
Recipe Notes
WHOLE 30 & LOW CARB VERSION - NUTRITION
Simply omit the honey for whole30 and low carb. Without the honey it comes in at around 5g net carbs
Adapted from BBC