DinnerMay 06, 2026

Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons

A beautifully fragrant and slow-cooked Moroccan stew with tender chicken, tangy preserved lemons, and green olives.

Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time1 hr 15 mins
Servings4
DifficultyMedium
Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
  • 1 large onion, grated
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

Spices

  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • Large pinch of saffron threads
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Flavorings

  • 1 preserved lemon, quartered
  • 1 cup green olives
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Fresh cilantro and parsley

Instructions

1

Marinate

Mix the grated onion, garlic, spices, olive oil, and herbs. Rub thoroughly into the chicken pieces and let sit for at least 30 minutes.

2

Brown the Chicken

In a traditional tagine or a heavy-bottomed pot, brown the chicken pieces over medium heat for 10 minutes.

3

Simmer

Add a splash of water, cover tightly, and reduce the heat to very low. Let it simmer gently for 45 minutes without uncovering.

4

Add Olives and Lemon

Add the preserved lemon quarters and green olives to the sauce. Cover and simmer for another 15 minutes until the chicken is falling off the bone.

5

Reduce Sauce

If the sauce is too thin, remove the chicken and reduce the liquid uncovered until thick and syrupy.

6

Serve

Serve directly from the tagine with lots of crusty Moroccan bread (khobz) to soak up the fragrant sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Calories450 kcal
Carbohydrates15g
Protein42g
Fat24g

* Based on a 2,000 calorie diet.