PAULA WOLFERT'S CHICKEN, MOROCCAN-STYLE

Paula Wolfert's Chicken, Moroccan-Style image

Provided by Moira Hodgson

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

3 1/2 pound chicken, whole
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed (optional)
Salt
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch of pulverized saffron or 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1/2 cup grated onion
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh coriander
3 tablespoons oil
1 pound green olives packed in brine
4 tablespoons lemon juice, or more to taste

Steps:

Wash the chicken, then drain. The remainder of this step is optional; the North Africans do it to purify the chicken. Blend the garlic with one tablespoon salt to make a paste. Rub the paste into the cavity and the flesh of the chicken. Rinse well.
Place the chicken in the casserole with the spices, garlic, onions, herbs, oil and two cups water. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes, turning the chicken often in the cooking liquid.
Meanwhile, pit the olives. To rid them of their bitterness boil them three times, changing the water each time.
Add the drained pitted olives and the lemon juice to the casserole and continue cooking until the chicken is very tender. Transfer the chicken to a serving dish. Using a slotted spoon, remove the olives and place around the chicken. Meanwhile reduce the cooking liquid in the casserole to a thick sauce. Adjust the salt and lemon juice to taste. Pour over the chicken. Serve at once.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1127, UnsaturatedFat 62 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 88 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 76 grams, SaturatedFat 20 grams, Sodium 2046 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams