Super Tasty Moroccan Chicken Tangine

January 3, 2017 2 Comments

Category: Dinner, Healthy Eating
Tags: Chicken Tangine, Easy meals, Healthy Eating, Healthy Meals, Meals under 30 minutes, Moroccan Chicken, Week night meal

New year, new reason to start eating healthier meals! This Moroccan-themed dinner not only packs a ton of flavor but also has major health benefits too.

This recipe dates back about 5 years when my dad and step-mom went to Morocco. They were so inspired by the flavors and spices that they cooked Bill and I this very dish which I loved. Since then, it’s become a favorite of mine and a surprisingly simple week night meal.

A key ingredient in this dish is turmeric, a spice that’s been used in India for 2,500 years that has major health benefits too. It’s ideal for those of us with anti-inflammatory diseases, and has even been found to be a helpful treatment of many health diseases, ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s to brain tumors. You can find it at any local grocery store too and one jar will get you through many years of this dish.

Chicken Tagine

Ingredients

• 1.5 / 2 pounds chicken – chicken thighs or breasts (thighs generally taste better for this dish so I often do a 50/50 split between the two)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups carrots
• 1 cup black olives
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 cup onion
• 1 tablespoon garlic
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cilantro and lemon slices for serving

Directions

One of the reasons to love this dish.. you can simply add all ingredients to a crockpot and let it sit for 8 hours on low. How easy is that?

OR, you can do this recipe on the stove. Since you all know how much I love my Dutch oven, I tend to use that instead because I think it’s a bit more flavorful in there.. Here’s how to make on the stove:

• Chop onions, garlic, and trim chicken fat. Set items aside.
• Add all spices together in a bowl and coat the chicken thighs/breasts thoroughly. Add salt/pepper to them too.
• In a large sauté pan or Dutch oven, heat two tablespoons olive oil with garlic and onion. Sauté for 5 minutes or so.
• Add chicken and heat on each side for 3 minutes
• Add chicken broth and let it simmer on low for 1-3 hours (the longer it simmers, the more moist the chicken will be)
• 30 minutes before serving, add in carrots and olives
• Garnish with cilantro and lemon slices to serve. You can also add couscous if you want to make it a heartier meal.

A healthy eating series focusing on simple, low carb/sugar dishes in 30 minutes or less. For more info on how MS affects my eating habits, click here.