Chicken Tajine With Honeyed Tomatoes and Chickpeas

This is my favourite chicken tajine recipe adapted from Bonnie Stern's Friday Night Dinners. Although it takes time to prepare, it has always been a crowd pleaser at dinner parties.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 1⁄8 teaspoon saffron thread
• 2  tablespoons boiling water
• 1  teaspoon sea salt
• 1  tablespoon paprika (smoked Spanish style)
• 1  tablespoon ground cumin
• 3  chicken breasts, cut in half
• 10  chicken legs
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil
• 2  onions, sliced
• 3  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 2  teaspoons ground cumin
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (12 ounce) can plum tomatoes, lightly mashed with a potato masher
• 2  cups  chicken stock (gluten free if necessary)
• 1 (8 ounce) can chickpeas
• 2  tablespoons honey
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice
•  pepper (to taste)
• 1  tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1  bunch cilantro, leaves picked and chopped
• 1  lemon, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Let the saffron steep in the boiling water and put aside.In a small bowl, combine salt, paprika, cumin (1 tbsp) and sprinkle over chicken.
2. In a dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-heat and brown the chicken in batches for 3-5 minute per side and set chicken aside in a separate bowl.
3. Reduce heat to low and add onions, garlic and ginger to the pot and cook gently for 10 minutes, scraping the solidified juices, spices and oil from the bottom of the pan.
4. Add remaining cumin (2 tsp), cinnamon and cayenne, and cook for 30-60 seconds.
5. Add saffron, tomatoes, stock, and chicken. Bring to a boil and reduce to medium.
6. Let cook for 20 minutes (uncovered), add chickpeas, honey and lemon juice and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
7. If the sauce isn't think enough, remove chicken and reduce sauce on medium-high for 10-15 minutes.
8. Add back chicken and mix in sliced lemon and cilantro. Remove from heat and serve.