These Moroccan Chicken Thighs are tender, rich with flavor and simple to make. Chicken thighs, carrots, onions and diced tomatoes are cooked in Moroccan spices creating a meal that will spice up any night of the week.
MOROCCAN CHICKEN THIGHS
Time and time again you make that one chicken dish, or that one particular soup. In my house we definitely have favorites and those tried and true recipes that get made over and over again. Today’s Moroccan Chicken Thighs are inspired by one of my favorite soups, a Moroccan Carrot Red Lentil Soup, that has actually become a reader favorite as well.
I often take the flavors of one recipe that I love and use them in a different type of recipe, because I know those flavors work well together. For these Moroccan Chicken Thighs I use the spice blend from the soup as the rub for the chicken thighs. If you like your food to be flavorful and packed with rich spices, then today’s recipe is for you.
The Moroccan spice blend includes ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, sweet paprika, cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon and crushed red pepper flakes. Rub the chicken thighs with the spice mixture and cook them with carrots, onion, dried figs, diced tomatoes, chicken broth and lemon juice.
This recipe is simple to make, gives you a dose of vegetables, protein and pairs perfectly with your favorite grain, like brown rice, and a simple side salad. My kids went crazy for this dish and asked for seconds. If your kids don’t like a lot of spice on their food then I suggest you just skip the cayenne red pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.
Dried figs and other dried fruits make the perfect addition to Moroccan style dishes. You will often find them in tagines, which have been part of the Moroccan culture for hundreds of years.
Tagines are a stew-like dish that mixes together warm, rich spices, meat, poultry or fish and fruits and vegetables. The dried fruits add the perfect sweetness to make the dish a savory-sweet masterpiece.
One thing I especially love about re-hydrating dried figs into this Moroccan Chicken Thigh dish is that it infuses the spices and flavors into the fruit. You won’t be bored with the rich, warm flavors in this dish! To find more ways to use dried figs you can find more dried fig recipes on Valley Fig Growers
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN THIS CHICKEN THIGH RECIPE?
- CHICKEN THIGHS: The main stars of this dish are those tender Just BARE® Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs . My love for chicken thighs runs deep. These chicken thighs are boneless and skinless, meaning you don’t have to do any prep on these beauties, they are ready to go right out of the package.
- OLIVES: I love the olives in this dish. They help add a saltiness to the dish and some great flavor. I used green olives. You can use whatever you like or leave them out if you don’t like them.
- FIGS: The Orchard Choice® or Sun-Maid® California Mission Dried Figs in this recipe add a nice touch of sweetness and are delicious when warmed. I love adding figs to this recipe because they complement savory recipes really well. Dried figs are a healthy addition to your diet. They help to naturally increase potassium and are naturally high in dietary fibre.
- VEGETABLES: I like to use carrots and onions in this dish but you can easily add any vegetables you have on hand. Try cauliflower, broccoli, green beans or zucchini.
- LEMON JUICE: The lemon juice and slices of lemon bring a lot of lemon to this dish. If you would prefer less lemon leave the lemon slices out.
- SPICES: I adore the spices in this dish. It uses coriander, cumin, turmeric, sweet paprika, cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon and crushed red pepper flakes.
WHAT CAN I PAIR WITH MY CHICKEN THIGHS?
TURMERIC CAULIFLOWER: This cauliflower is roasted to help bring out its sweetness and then paired with warm and rich spices.
SIMPLE GARLIC PARMESAN GREEN BEANS: These green beans are so easy to make and are a nice change from classic green beans.
LEMON ARUGULA SALAD WITH PINE NUTS: You will love this light and lemony salad paired with the warm flavors in this chicken dish.
These Moroccan Chicken Thighs are tender, rich with flavor and simple to make. Chicken thighs, carrots, onions, dried figs and diced tomatoes are cooked in Moroccan spices creating a meal that will spice up any night of the week.
Moroccan Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
For the Moroccan spice blend:
For the Moroccan chicken thighs:
Garnish:
Instructions
Today’s post is sponsored by Valley Fig Growers and Just BARE Chicken. As always, thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that I am passionate about and that make A Cedar Spoon possible.
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[…] CHICKEN & TURKEY: I love making these Mediterranean Baked Turkey Meatballs, Herb Roasted Turkey or these Moroccan Chicken Thighs. […]
Matt Wodenka
Thursday 3rd of December 2020
I made this for dinner the other night and it was honestly the most delicious, unique, flavorful thing I've ever cooked/eaten in my life. I am officially obsessed with this recipe and have been sharing it with anybody who will listen to me. This has made me super excited to try other Moroccan recipes! Thanks so much for this. I will be making this meal for the rest of my life!
Julia
Thursday 3rd of December 2020
Aww thank you. That means a lot. This is a recipe I love too-the flavors are just so warm and rich. I am glad you agree and thank you for passing this on to others.
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Hina Abbasi
Wednesday 5th of August 2020
This is an amazing recipe with full of flavor and it looks too delicious with more easy to make as well...i will trying to make it tonight dinner...for my husband...Thanks for sharing......!
Julia
Wednesday 5th of August 2020
Hope you enjoy it!
greg
Wednesday 29th of April 2020
Just made this dish and it was delicious! Thank you! Will it work with boneless chicken breasts? I like thighs but like chicken breasts a little more. . Thanks again!
Julia
Wednesday 29th of April 2020
Yes! You just have to make sure you check the temperature of the chicken breasts because they are thicker usually- make sure you get them to 165 F. Hope you enjoy them!