In t-minus 3 days, all my things should be in boxes, ideally, and ready for my big move. Except I know myself. I know that in 3 days, I’m going to look at my room, or my kitchen, in dismay and ask myself what in the world I’ve been doing. Something my mother would ask in the most disapproving of voices. This is when I would blame youtube for my perpetual procrastination, and thank Warda for her amazing chicken and olives recipe. If you need a break from anything, life, packing, the economy?, turn up your speakers and listen to this song. If you’re hungry afterwards, do what I did, and make this incredible North African chicken and olives recipe (aka دجاج بالزيتون). Everything else can wait.
My plan is to pack up the rest of my room today and make a dent, at least, in the kitchen department. Since I was in the mood to relax and cook last night, I went with a whole chicken, but you could’ve just as well gone with already-cut, bone-in chicken. The bone is important here because that is what will keep the chicken moist during the cooking process.
The marinade for this dish is one of the best I’ve tasted in a long time. You basically throw in the spices, ginger, onion, and half a preserved lemon into a food processor with some olive oil and you’re set. You can technically skip the preserved lemons, but if you feel compelled and don’t have some laying around, Whole Foods and other specialty stores should carry them. If you want to start getting a jar ready for 6-months down the road, you won’t regret it.
Rice, cous cous or bread are all perfect sides for this dish. This dish is also being featured for this month’s A Taste of the Mediterranean, where we’re showcasing the cuisine of North Africa throughout the month of May. iGourmet has agreed to sponsor the contest and is offering a $50 gift certificate for the winning dish. Make a variation of this meal, be creative and enter to win!
Chicken with Olives
serves 4-6 people
Components
For the Marinade:
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 inch piece of ginger
- 1 small onion
- 1/2 preserved lemon
- pinch of cinnamon
- pinch of saffron
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the Dish:
- 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
- small bouquet of parsley
- small bouquet of cilantro
- 1/2-3/4 cup water
- 1 onion, quartered and sliced
- 1 cup green olives
- bread, rice or cous cous
- extra parsley, for garnish
Putting them all together
- Make the marinade by pulsing all the ingredients in a food processor.
- Wash the chicken under cold water and butcher into 6 or 8 pieces. Dry and marinate over night (or at least 1 hour, if rushed).
- Tie the bouquet of parsley and cilantro with a string for easy retrieval after cooking.
- Place marinated chicken, with marinade, in a large heavy-bottomed pan (or tajine) along with the rest of the ingredients, except the olives.
- Bring to a boil, cover and cook for 30 minutes on medium-low heat (simmering), making sure to turn the chicken pieces in the sauce every once in a while.
- Remove the parsley and cilantro bouquets, add the olives and transfer to a 375 degree F oven to finish cooking.
- Serve alongside rice, cous cous or bread and enjoy!
notes: Recipe very slightly modified from Warda. Also, rinse olives if excessively bitter.
You don’t look like you are packing doing this dish. I will keep this marinade on files. Hope you have a smooth move.
Hey Antonio!
Another awesome-looking dish! Unfortunately for me, in 2 weeks I’m moving to the middle of nowhere for my training and I’ll be there for two months… *ugh*
There won’t be a half-decent kitchen around for hundreds of miles =(
Hope you are well!
leaving things for the last minute..?
I can totally relate.there`s something so stressful and destabilizing about moving,that preparing such a feast although seems very illogical,is actually very grounding at transitory moments when we lose our sense of place/home.Goodluck with your (big?)move,wherever..p.s loved the song.
That sounds so delicious and aromatic! Good luck with the moving! 🙂
Antonio,
Good luck w/ the move. Where are you re-locating to? NYC? To become a famous food editor? This recipe looks great.
Thanks,
Jil
Stumbled onto your blog through Tastespotting. I must say that this recipe looks absolutely delicious. I’ve planning to attempt making preserved lemons this weekend so I’ll bookmark this recipe when my lemons “mature”. Fantastic pics as well.
Hi
it looks delicious thanks for sharing
good night
That looks really tasty! I just made a similar dish with the preserved lemons that I made.
Hello there Tony!
So glad you liked the marinade the the dish. It looks mouthwatering on your photos and I am very found of your prep photos. I’m sorry I didn’t mention anything about ATOTM on my blog. I haven’t posted anythin since your e-mail. I will post a note about it as soon as I post. Good luck to the contestant and I can’t wait to see the variations they come up with.
All the best to you and good luck with your move.
Maa essalama ya akhi
I’m making this !!!
i have a jar of home made lemon pickle, n i nedd to use it . Just in time Tony 🙂
How’s the moving in ??:)
Tony,,,
Great job and beautiful photos as usual,
I like the marinade you used in the recipe,
I bet the taste is yummy as well.
the June Challenge is posted in the Walima Blog and in the Forum..
Je découvre ton blog. Un vrai plaisir pour les yeux. Et certainement pour le palais aussi. A bientôt. Je reviendrai.
I discover your blog. A true pleasure for eyes. See you soon. I shall come back.