Moroccan Tagine
This comforting Moroccan tagine combines sweet and savoury flavours in a rich stew. Diced chicken is cooked with onions, garlic, carrots, capsicum, and a blend of warming spices. It is simmered with eggplant, chickpeas, raisins, and optional apricots until the vegetables are tender. The dish is traditionally served over a bed of fluffy couscous for a complete meal. It is a flavourful one-pot wonder that delivers authentic taste without requiring a traditional tagine pot.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups chopped onions
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced 1/2 cm cubes
- 1 cup carrot, sliced 1/2 cm thick
- 1 large red capsicums (also known as a bell pepper) or 1 large green capsicum, cut into strips (also known as a bell pepper)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 cup water
- 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1 cm cubes
- 1/2 cup raisins (I have substituted sultanas)
- 1 (400 g) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (I understand these are called garbanzo beans in other places)
- 1/2 cup dried apricot (optional)
Method
- Warm the oil in a saucepan.
- Cook the onion and garlic, stirring, until the onion turns translucent.
- Place the chicken in the pan and stir to colour it lightly, then remove it.
- Put the carrots, capsicum, and all the spices into the pan.
- Stir the dry ingredients to toast them.
- When the spices become fragrant, pour in 1/2 cup of the water.
- Allow this to cook, stirring now and then, for 5 minutes.
- Introduce all the remaining ingredients to the saucepan.
- Cover the pan and let it simmer for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft.
- Stir the stew often while it cooks to stop it sticking to the base.
- You might have to add a little more water if needed.
- Present the tagine accompanied by couscous.
- Note: Salt your eggplant only if you see many black seeds inside when cut.
- If you do salt it, rinse the salt off thoroughly and pat the eggplant dry.
Nutrition (per serving)
Sodium512400 mg
Recipe details
CategoryStew
AuthorSassy Syrah