How To Cook a Traditional Tajine (Moroccan Recipes) :

 Learn how t coook a Moroccan tajine recipe step by step using the traditional and healthy way

What You'll Need

Tajine with Ingredients

• 1 or 2 
• preserved lemons, quartered and seeds removed
• 1 whole chicken, skin removed, cut into pieces
• 2 large white or yellow onions, very finely chopped
• 2 or 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or pressed
• 1 small handful fresh cilantro (chopped)*
• 1 small handful fresh parsley (chopped)*
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon turmeric (or 1/4 teaspoon Moroccan yellow colorant)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Optional: 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled
• Optional: 1 teaspoon
• smen *Moroccan preserved butter
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 handfuls green or red olives, or mixed
• 1/4 cup water, approximately

Prepare the Chicken

1. 1) Remove the flesh from the preserved lemon and finely chop it. Add the chopped lemon flesh to a bowl along with the chicken, onion, garlic, cilantro, parsley, ginger, pepper, turmeric, salt, saffron, and smen, and mix well.
2. 2) If time allows, let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or even overnight.

Cook the Chicken/

1. 1) Add enough of the olive oil to the tagine to coat the bottom. Arrange the chicken in the tagine (flesh-side down), and distribute the onions all around.

1. 2) Add the olives and preserved lemon quarters, and drizzle the remaining olive oil over the chicken. Add the water to the tagine, cover, and place on a diffuser over a medium-low heat.
2. 3) Give the tagine time to reach a simmer without peaking. If you don't hear the tagine simmering within 20 minutes, slightly increase the heat, and then maintain the lowest heat setting required for maintaining a gentle, not rapid, simmer.
3. 4) Allow the chicken to cook undisturbed for 80 to 90 minutes, and then turn the chicken over so that it's flesh side up. Cover the tagine again, and allow the chicken to finish cooking until very tender.
4. 5) Turn off the heat, and let the tagine for about 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Moroccan tradition is to eat directly from the tagine, using Moroccan bread to scoop up the chicken and sauce. French fries are frequently served with this dish, and even can be placed on top of the chicken.