Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Chickpeas (Instant Pot)
Tagines are a North African dish (specifically in Morocco, Algeria,and Tunisia) and the name of the clay pot it is cooked in. The cone shaped dome that is placed on top during the cooking process collects all of the condensation, allowing it to return to the dish instead of escaping. This process of cooking requires little liquid to be added. Tagines are always cooked on a low heat. If cooked on high heat, the clay pot will crack.Tagine, the dish, are savory stews consisting of some type of protein, usually chicken, lamb, or fish cooked with vegetables or fruit. Commonly used spices include cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, ginger, paprika, and saffron. Dried fruits and nuts are frequently incorporated.This particular recipe is for an Instant Pot. While you don’t generate the same flavor that you’d get from a clay tagine pot, it still turns out amazing and will take half of the cooking time.
Servings: 4
Equipment
- instant pot
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 whole chicken legs
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch saffron
- 2 medium tomatoes diced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 cup dried apricots
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cup chickpeas
- 1/4 cup mint chopped
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot function to sauté on high. Heat up the cooking oil. Sear the chicken for 3 minutes a side. Remove from the pot.
- Add in the onions, garlic, and spices. Sauté for 4 minutes.
- Add in the tomatoes and apricots. Cook for a minute. Pour in the chicken stock. Scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the chicken back in. Season with salt and pepper. Put on the cover. Turn the function to pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Push start.
- Release the pressure.
- Add in the chickpeas and mint.
- If you want the sauce to be thicker, stir in a slurry made of 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of cold water. Simmer for a few minutes on the sauté function for a couple of minutes.
