Moroccan Chicken Recipe

OK, maybe you're right, I'm stretching things a bit to include this Moroccan chicken recipe on a French food site. However, it is so yummy and unexpected, that I just had to share it with you. If you're thinking of trying a tagine recipe, this Moroccan stew is a great one to begin with.

Tagine Cooking

A tagine is a heavy, earthenware cooking vessel with a round base and conical lid. It is slow to heat and slow to cool down. It's shape and material lends itself to moist, succulent dishes. Tagine also refers to the dishes that are cooked in this vessel.

The tagine is a very old method of cooking. Modern takes on the tagine inlcude an electric one. I can't imagine that an electric tagine could give you the results that a true earthenware one does. Also, cooking with a real tagine is a pleasure. Something about the simplicity and heaviness of its material is ever so appealing.

Tagine Tips

These tips are intended for use with a traditional high-quality, earthenware tagine. You should, of course, follow any instructions that come with your particular tagine. Be aware that many low-cost tagines are sold only as serving dishes.

• You can use your tagine to cook on the stove top, but you should use a special metal heat diffuser between the dish and the heat source.
• A quality tagine goes in the oven - no problem.
• A tagine gets very hot and is slow to cool down, so be very careful.
• You'll certainly want to serve your recipe in the tagine because it makes such an unusual and attractive presentation.
• You don't need a tagine to cook this Moroccan chicken recipe. You can use any heavy, covered baking dish, such as a Dutch oven.