Chicken Tagine Skillet

What is Tagine?

Also spelled tajine, a tagine is a Moroccan stew made with meat, vegetables and other ingredients alongside rice or couscous. And, you don’t need a traditional tagine – the name of the covered terracotta pan and conical lid – to prepare this hearty tagine meal. A cast-iron skillet is the next best thing! It not only cooks dishes faster, but it also evenly heats those ingredients. Besides, what better way to season your skillet than using flavorful Moroccan spices?

Moroccan Spices

If you don’t have a stocked spice rack, fear not. When you are grocery shopping, reach for a shaker of Ras El Hanout, otherwise known as Moroccan seasoning. It’s a mixture of cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, allspice, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon.

Even if you have all the spices need for this recipe, you might be tempted to get a jar for the pantry merely because it’s a huge time saver! Get those rich, Northern African flavors with just a flick of the wrist. Sprinkle it on some grilled pita or rub it on lamb, beef, or chicken. If you’re on a time crunch you can use it in this rich Turkey, Chickpea & Rice Tajine.

Zesty Lemon

Lemon plays an important role in Moroccan cuisine; the tangy citrus adds bright, floral flavors to savory dishes. If you don’t have lemons, you can use equal amounts of lime juice, dry white wine, or orange juice. You could also sub in white vinegar — preferably white wine vinegar — for lemon juice, measuring just half the recipe amount. Missing anything else? You probably have these Ingredient Substitutions!

As for the zest, you can do some meal prep so you always have some on hand: keep your zest in the fridge for 2 weeks in a sealed container.

Looking for a yummy dinner idea? Shrimp and Fried Rice is the perfect choice!