Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons & Olives

Ingredients

• 6 lb. chicken thighs, with bones and skin
• coarse salt

• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 2 Tbs. butter, plus 1 Tbs. to finish

• 2 large yellow onions, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp. each ground ginger, turmeric, and paprika
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• big pinch saffron
• 2 preserved lemons, rinsed, flesh removed and rind small
• 3 Tbs. cilantro stems, minced
• 1 cup pitted green olives, preferably Castelvetrano
• 2 cups chicken stock

• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• fresh lemon juice

Directions

Rinse the chicken thighs, pat dry, and season well with salt.

In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, put the olive oil and butter. When hot, brown the chicken thighs, skin down at first. Turn and cool on other side. As they cook transfer them to a roasting pan. They should be snug but not touching each other. Into the pan, stir the onions and cook gently stirring from time to time until they are translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and the spices and cook, stirring, for another minute. Add the lemons, cilantro stems, olives, another pinch of salt, and the chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Pour the onion mixture into the roasting pan. The mixture should not cover the chicken so that the skin is exposed and browns. Bake in a 375 degree oven until the chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes.

Remove when the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a warm serving platter. Boil up the juices in the pan on top of the stove. Stir in the chopped cilantro and remaining butter. Add salt to and lemon juice to taste. Pour over chicken. Serves 8. MSR (Recipe developed by Heidi Krahling of INSALATA’S in San Anselmo.)

Couscous

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups medium-grain couscous

Directions

To prepare the couscous, heat the water, butter and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour the couscous grains into a 9™inch square baking dish. Add the hot water mixture and stir once to mix well. Cover the pan with a lid or foil and let stand about 10 minutes. Break up any lumps with a fork and fluff it with your fingers. The couscous can be kept warm over hot water for several hours, fluff it with a fork occasionally. Serves 6.

Preserved Lemons

Ingredients

• 6 lemons
• 2 cups kosher salt
• 1 cup lemon juice (or water)
• water

Directions

Cut each lemon into wedges, keeping them attached at the stem end. Place in a large crock. Pour the salt, and lemon juice over them with enough water to cover.

Cover. Refrigerate for at least one month, turning them over in the brine once in a while.

Note: Preserved lemons can be added to a fish cooked with onions, or a lamb stew, or in a salad with fresh tomatoes and black olives.
They keep for a year.