Chicken and Chickpea Tagine

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  • 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons corn or canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Pinch cayenne
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups chopped tomatoes (canned are fine; drain excess liquid)
  • 4 cups chickpeas (canned are fine; drain and rinse first)
  • 1/2 cup raisins or chopped pitted dates
  • 1/2 vanilla bean
  • 8 chicken thighs, or 4 leg-thigh pieces, cut in two
  • Chopped cilantro or parsley leaves

Preparation

Step 1

Put oil and butter in a large skillet or casserole, which can be covered later, and turn heat to medium high. When butter melts, add onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, a large pinch of salt and spices. Cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, raisins and vanilla, and bring to a boil. (If mixture is very dry, add about 1/2 cup water.) Taste, and add salt as necessary.

Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt, and nestle them into sauce. Cover, and 5 minutes later adjust heat so mixture simmers steadily. Cook until chicken is very tender, 45 minutes to an hour. Taste, and adjust seasoning. Then garnish, and serve with couscous.