Best 4 Moroccan Chicken Smothered In Olives Recipes

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Are you craving a culinary journey to the vibrant and aromatic land of Morocco? Look no further than this enticing recipe for Moroccan Chicken Smothered in Olives. Embark on a tantalizing adventure as we delve into the exquisite flavors of this traditional dish, where tender chicken is lovingly enveloped in a luscious sauce brimming with savory spices, succulent olives, and the vibrant tang of preserved lemons. Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with a symphony of flavors, as this delectable creation transports you to the heart of Moroccan cuisine.

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MOROCCAN CHICKEN SMOTHERED IN OLIVES



Moroccan Chicken Smothered in Olives image

Chicken, that old weeknight standby, can get pretty boring day after day. This dish, adapted from "Mediterranean Cooking" by Paula Wolfert, is almost as easy as a few pan-fried chicken breasts, but its flavors - ginger, turmeric, cumin, Spanish sweet paprika, briny olives - are far more exciting. If you have the time, brining the chicken thighs for a couple of hours in a salt-sugar-water solution before cooking will yield supremely tender meat, but if you're in a rush, skip it. You're still going to fall in love with this dish.

Provided by Alex Witchel

Categories     dinner, poultry, main course

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/4 cup salt, for brining (optional)
1/2 cup sugar, for brining (optional)
8 chicken thighs with bone, skin removed and discarded
2 onions, peeled, halved and sliced
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon Spanish sweet paprika
4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 ounces pitted green olives in brine, like Goya's, drained
Juice of 1 lemon

Steps:

  • To brine chicken (optional): In a large bowl, combine salt, sugar and 1 cup hot water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add 3 cups cold water and chicken pieces. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Drain, rinse, and drain again before using.
  • In bottom of a large flameproof casserole, arrange onions and top with chicken pieces. Sprinkle with ginger, turmeric, cumin, paprika, garlic and cilantro. Pour chicken broth over all.
  • Place over high heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, turning once. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine olives with several cups of water and bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes, drain well and set aside.
  • Add olives and lemon juice to chicken, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. If desired, simmer for additional time to reduce and thicken sauce. Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 840, UnsaturatedFat 42 grams, Carbohydrate 16 grams, Fat 63 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 54 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 1499 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams

MOROCCAN APRICOT CHICKEN



Moroccan Apricot Chicken image

Traditionally, this Moroccan chicken with apricots dish includes chili pepper paste, but I use chili sauce in my version. Serve it alone or with couscous for a heartier meal. -Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 4h40m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 cup slivered almonds
6 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2-1/4 pounds)
3/4 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1/2 cup dried apricots, quartered
4 teaspoons Moroccan seasoning (ras el hanout)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup orange juice
Chopped fresh parsley, optional

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add almonds; cook and stir until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. In the same skillet, brown chicken on both sides. Remove from heat. Transfer chicken to a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. Stir chili sauce, preserves, apricots, Moroccan seasoning, vanilla and garlic powder into drippings. Pour over chicken., Cook, covered, on low until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175°, 4 to 4-1/2 hours. Stir in garbanzo beans and orange juice. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, 15-30 minutes longer. Serve with almonds. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 482 calories, Fat 21g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 81mg cholesterol, Sodium 633mg sodium, Carbohydrate 47g carbohydrate (27g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 28g protein.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH OLIVES



Moroccan Chicken with Olives image

This fragrant chicken will make its presence known long before it comes from the oven. Its spicy aroma will get everyone in the mood to enjoy a Middle Eastern feast! Serve with hot cooked rice or couscous, if desired. Kalamata olives garnish this Moroccan dish to add a slightly salty flavor. Greek or even ripe olives can be used if you can't get Kalamata olives.

Provided by Allrecipes Member

Time 1h25m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon ground ginger
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
⅓ cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
½ cup water
¼ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
½ cup kalamata olives
1 lemon, sliced

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Stir together cilantro, paprika, cumin, salt, turmeric, ginger and garlic. Rub mixture on all sides of chicken; coat chicken with flour. Place chicken in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Stir together water, lemon juice and bouillon granules; pour over chicken. Add olives and lemon slices.
  • Bake uncovered about 1 hour, spooning liquid over chicken occasionally, until juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 377.3 calories, Carbohydrate 10.7 g, Cholesterol 112.4 mg, Fat 20.8 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 36.4 g, SaturatedFat 5.3 g, Sodium 684.6 mg, Sugar 0.4 g

PAULA WOLFERT'S CHICKEN, MOROCCAN-STYLE



Paula Wolfert's Chicken, Moroccan-Style image

Provided by Moira Hodgson

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 1/2 pound chicken, whole
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed (optional)
Salt
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch of pulverized saffron or 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1/2 cup grated onion
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh coriander
3 tablespoons oil
1 pound green olives packed in brine
4 tablespoons lemon juice, or more to taste

Steps:

  • Wash the chicken, then drain. The remainder of this step is optional; the North Africans do it to purify the chicken. Blend the garlic with one tablespoon salt to make a paste. Rub the paste into the cavity and the flesh of the chicken. Rinse well.
  • Place the chicken in the casserole with the spices, garlic, onions, herbs, oil and two cups water. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes, turning the chicken often in the cooking liquid.
  • Meanwhile, pit the olives. To rid them of their bitterness boil them three times, changing the water each time.
  • Add the drained pitted olives and the lemon juice to the casserole and continue cooking until the chicken is very tender. Transfer the chicken to a serving dish. Using a slotted spoon, remove the olives and place around the chicken. Meanwhile reduce the cooking liquid in the casserole to a thick sauce. Adjust the salt and lemon juice to taste. Pour over the chicken. Serve at once.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1127, UnsaturatedFat 62 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 88 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 76 grams, SaturatedFat 20 grams, Sodium 2046 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

  • Choose the right chicken pieces: For this recipe, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks work best. They will stay moist and flavorful during the cooking process.
  • Brown the chicken before braising: Browning the chicken in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker helps to develop flavor and color.
  • Use a variety of olives: This recipe calls for both green and black olives. You can use any type of olives you like, but a combination of both gives the dish a nice flavor and texture.
  • Add some heat: If you like spicy food, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the slow cooker along with the olives.
  • Serve with your favorite sides: This dish goes well with rice, couscous, or roasted vegetables.

Conclusion:

This Moroccan Chicken Smothered in Olives is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The chicken is tender and moist, and the olives add a delicious briny flavor. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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