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Classic Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons & Olives

groups4 servingsspeedMediumcountertopsPrep: 15 minsskilletCook: 60 minsscheduleTotal: 75 minsoutdoor_grillBraisedlocal_fire_departmentMild
Allergens:warningDairy

Allergen labels are AI-generated and may be incomplete or wrong. If you have a food allergy, always verify every ingredient yourself.

Recipe details are AI-generated from the video and may contain errors — for reference only.

skilletInstruction

13 Steps Total
01
Active Cooking
00:00:56

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp duck fat, then add 1 sliced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onions sweat down, soften, and lightly brown.

local_fire_departmentmedium-high heat, 3 minutes
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Watch out

Keep stirring onions constantly so they sweat out moisture without scorching.

Ingredients:duck fat (1 tbsp)Onion (1 piece)
Tools:skillet / pan
02
Active Cooking
00:01:27

Add 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground coriander, 0.5 tsp ground white pepper, 1 tsp ground turmeric, 1 pinch saffron threads, and 0.5 tsp salt to the sweated onions. Stir well to toast spices until fragrant.

local_fire_departmentmedium heat, 1 minute
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Watch out

Do not cook ground spices for too long in hot pan, or they will scorch and turn bitter.

Ingredients:ground ginger (1 tsp)ground coriander (1 tsp)white pepper powder (0.5 tsp)ground turmeric (1 tsp)saffron powder (1 tsp)Salt (0.5 tsp)Onion
Tools:skillet / pan
03
Preparation
00:02:05

Transfer the spiced onions out of the skillet into a side bowl and set aside.

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Watch out

Clear as much onion out as possible so residual bits don't burn while searing chicken.

Ingredients:Onion
Tools:bowl
04
Active Cooking
00:02:19
warningStay safe

Beware of hot oil splatter when placing chicken thighs skin-side down into hot fat.

In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp duck fat. Lay 4 chicken thighs skin-side down and sear until the skin turns deep golden brown.

local_fire_departmentmedium-high heat, 5 minutes
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Watch out

Do not overcrowd the pan or move chicken around too early

let skin crisp undisturbed

Ingredients:duck fat (1 tbsp)bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (4 piece)
Tools:skillet / pan
05
Active Cooking
00:02:42

Place a metal heat diffuser over stovetop burner flame. Set the tagine base on the diffuser. Add reserved spiced onions and pour in 1 cup chicken stock. Bring broth to a simmer.

local_fire_departmentmedium heat, 2 minutes
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Watch out

Always place a heat diffuser under clay tagines on gas stoves, otherwise direct heat will crack the clay.

Ingredients:OnionChicken Stock or Water (1 cup)
Tools:stove heat diffuser platetagine pot
06
Active Cooking
00:03:03

Transfer the seared chicken thighs directly from skillet into simmering broth in tagine base, arranging them skin-side up in a single layer.

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Watch out

Place chicken skin-side up so seared crisp skin stays above liquid line.

Ingredients:bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
Tools:tagine pot
07
Active Cooking
00:03:15
warningStay safe

Use heavy oven mitts or thick towels when moving hot clay tagine into oven.

Cover tagine with its conical lid. Transfer entire tagine vessel into a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven and bake for 45 minutes until chicken meat is tender and easily comes off the bone.

local_fire_department350°F (175°C) oven, 45 minutes
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Watch out

Keep tagine covered tightly during baking so steam condenses inside and cooks meat evenly.

Tools:ovenoven mitts
08
Active Cooking
00:03:29
warningStay safe

Extremely hot ceramic/clay dish; handle only with thick heat protection towels.

Remove tagine from oven using thick kitchen towels and carefully lift lid off to reveal rich simmered broth.

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Watch out

Tilt lid away from yourself when uncovering to prevent escaping steam from burning your hands/face.

Tools:kitchen towel
09
Preparation
00:03:41

Use a large spoon to lift cooked chicken thighs out of tagine broth and set them on a resting plate.

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Watch out

Lift chicken gently as meat is tender and may pull apart.

Tools:plate
10
Active Cooking
00:04:00

Place tagine base back onto burner over heat diffuser on medium heat. Stir in 1 tbsp diced preserved lemon peel and 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, bring to a simmer.

local_fire_departmentmedium heat, 2 minutes
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Watch out

Add diced preserved lemon sparingly as it adds intense salty flavor.

Ingredients:diced preserved lemon peel (1 tbsp)parsley (1 tbsp)
Tools:tagine pot
11
Active Cooking
00:04:26

Add 2 tbsp unsalted butter to simmering broth. Swirl and stir continuously until butter melts and emulsifies, creating a glossy, thickened sauce.

local_fire_departmentlow heat, 1 minute
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Watch out

Keep heat gentle while stirring butter so butter emulsifies into broth instead of separating.

Ingredients:butter (2 tbsp)
Tools:spoon
12
Active Cooking
00:04:51

Pour 0.5 cup pitted green olives into emulsified sauce. Nestled the rested chicken thighs back into sauce around tagine base.

local_fire_departmentlow heat, 1 minute
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Watch out

Handle chicken thighs carefully so seared crisp skin stays facing upwards above sauce.

Ingredients:green olives (0.5 cup)bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
Tools:tagine pot
13
Waiting Time
00:05:08

Arrange 4 preserved lemon wedges over top of chicken. Put conical lid on tagine off heat for 2 minutes to let sauce settle and lemons warm through. Sprinkle remaining 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley over dish and serve.

local_fire_departmentoff heat, 2 minutes
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Watch out

Let covered tagine rest off heat so preserved lemons warm up without cooking down completely.

Ingredients:preserved lemon, quartered into wedges (1 piece)parsley (1 tbsp)
Tools:tagine pot

groceryAll Ingredients

duck fat2 tbsp
Onion1 piece
ground ginger1 tsp
ground coriander1 tsp
white pepper powder0.5 tsp
ground turmeric1 tsp
saffron powder1 tsp
Salt0.5 tsp
bone-in skin-on chicken thighs4 piece
Chicken Stock or Water1 cup
diced preserved lemon peel1 tbsp
parsley2 tbsp
butter2 tbsp
green olives0.5 cup
preserved lemon, quartered into wedges1 piece

blenderAll Tools Needed

skillet / panbowlstove heat diffuser platetagine potovenoven mittskitchen towelplatespoon