Chicken Tagine with Artichoke Hearts and Peas

By LaLaCooks

To give this Moroccan stew flavor without much fat, chef Joël Robuchon simmers it in a spiced broth. Artichoke hearts add a lovely spring flavor; they're also one of the best vegetable sources of antioxidants.

Ingredients

• One 4-pound chicken—legs separated into drumsticks and thighs, breasts halved crosswise, skin and visible fat removed
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium onions—1 coarsely chopped, 1 minced
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
• 6 saffron threads, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 medium tomatoes, cut into eighths
• 1/4 preserved lemon, rind only, minced (see Note)
• 8 frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and quartered
• 1 cup frozen petite peas, thawed

Details

Servings 4
Cooking time 75mins
Adapted from foodandwine.com

Preparation

Step 1

Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In a medium, enameled cast-iron casserole, combine the chicken with the coarsely chopped onion and the chicken stock and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, mix the saffron threads with the ginger, coriander, cumin, paprika and turmeric. Stir the spice mixture into the broth. Cover and simmer over low heat, turning the chicken pieces once, until the breast pieces are just white throughout, about 25 minutes; transfer the breast pieces to a bowl and cover. Continue to simmer the drumsticks and thighs, covered, until done, about 15 minutes longer; transfer to the bowl with the breast pieces and keep covered.

Add the minced onion, the tomatoes, preserved lemon and artichoke hearts to the casserole and simmer over moderate heat until the broth is richly flavored, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add the peas. Return the chicken to the casserole and simmer gently, turning a few times, until heated through. Serve the tagine in shallow bowls.