Chicken Tajine with Olives and Preserved Lemons

Ingredients

• olive oil
• chicken
• salt
• fresh ground pepper
• onions
• fresh ginger
• cinnamon sticks
• saffron thread
• tomatoes
• garlic
• flat leaf parsley
• cilantro
• preserved lemons
• kalamata olive

Preparation

1. 1heat the oil in a large saucepan
2. 2season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and add them to the pan along with the onions , ginger , cinnamon and saffron
3. 3cook over high heat , turning the chicken occasionally , until browned all over , about 10 minutes
4. 4add the tomatoes , garlic , parsley , cilantro and 2 cups of water and bring to a boil
5. 5reduce the heat to low , cover and simmer , stirring occasionally , until the chicken is tender , about 1 hour
6. 6meanwhile , rinse the preserved lemons under running water
7. 7pat dry
8. 8cut the lemons into quarters
9. 9discard the pulp from one of the lemons and finely chop the peel
10. 10reserve the quarters for garnish
11. 11transfer the chicken to a large plate
12. 12strain the cooking liquid and return it to the casserole
13. 13boil over high heat until slightly thickened , about 10 minutes
14. 14add the chopped preserved lemons and the olives and simmer over moderate heat for 2 minutes
15. 15add the chicken pieces and simmer until heated through
16. 16arrange the chicken pieces on a serving dish
17. 17pour the sauce on top and garnish with the lemon quarters