A Taste of Morocco, Please

The tagine, an iconic dish of North African Berber culture, is the epitome of slow cooking where each element absorbs intense aromas. Cooked in a clay pot, its conical shape allows steam to condense and fall back onto the ingredients, enhancing the depth of flavor. This unique process ensures perfect tenderness and a magical fusion of aromas.

🔸 Chicken and Preserved Lemons: A Flavorful Alliance
In our version, the chicken absorbs the complex notes of preserved lemon, a staple of Moroccan cuisine. The prolonged brining softens the rind, making it tender and aromatic, while developing a precise balance between saltiness and acidity. Rather than just a lemony hint, it plays a structural role, adding depth and a controlled bitterness that contrasts delicately with the chicken’s tenderness.

🔸 Aromatic Spice Marinade
To bring out the chicken's flavor, we’ve crafted a precise marinade with fresh garlic, olive oil, and a carefully blended selection of spices. The raz el hanout from Terre Exotique offers a nuanced composition with a floral note from rose petals. Combined with ginger, turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon, it creates a layered seasoning that permeates the meat evenly. This method ensures a precise balance between spicy warmth, woody roundness, and aromatic freshness, while preserving the texture of the chicken.

🔸 Ground Ginger: For a Milder Heat
We opted for ground ginger instead of fresh to ensure even flavor diffusion and controlled heat. Less sharp than its fresh counterpart, it brings a moderate warmth, preventing any overwhelming notes. This subtlety harmonizes the warm spices while maintaining a fresh overall tone in the dish.

A tagine where Morocco simmers gently — the spices lead the dance, the chicken follows the rhythm, and the sauce seals the harmony. 🇲🇦🍋