Chicken & Pomegranate Tagine

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 -2 tablespoon sesame seeds (to garnish)
• 1 cup frozen small whole onions
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch chunks
• 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup pitted prune, cut in halves
• 1/2 cup dried apricot, cut in halves
• 15 sprigs cilantro, tied with string
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds, for garnish (1 large fruit)

Recipe

• 1 pomegranates.
• 2 fill a large bowl with water. hold the pomegranate in the water and slice the crown off. lightly score the fruit into quarters, from crown to stem end. keeping the fruit under water carefully break it apart. then gently separate the arils (seeds) from the outer skin and pith.
• 3 the seeds will drop to the bottom of the bowl and the pith will float to the surface. discard the pith then pour the seeds into a colander. rinse and pat dry. the seeds can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable bag for up to 3 months.
• 4 tagine.
• 5 heat a small skillet over medium-low heat then toast sesame seeds dry, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. transfer to a bowl to cool.
• 6 meanwhile, rinse the frozen onions under warm water to thaw.
• 7 heat oil in a tagine over medium-low heat. then add ginger and pepper, stirring, until fragrant and beginning to foam (around 1 minute).
• 8 add the chicken and onions to the mixture then stir to coat. cook until onions begin to turn golden, roughly 5 minutes, making sure to stir occasionally.
• 9 stir in the pomegranate juice, prunes, apricots, cilantro and salt. cover with the lid cook over low heat for 45 minutes.
• 10 remove lid and discard cilantro. carefully stir the sauce then recover & continue to cook for 30 minutes. the tagine is done once the chicken is tender.
• 11 to serve: ladle the tagine into a large serving bowl. garnish with sesame seeds and pomegranate seeds.