The Perfect Mary Berry Chicken Tagine Recipe for Cozy Nights

Mary Berry’s chicken tagine represents a magical fusion of robust flavors and tender ingredients that transform ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Moroccan cuisine brings incredible depth through carefully balanced spices and slow-cooking techniques that elevate simple proteins.

Mediterranean influences dance across each carefully prepared bite, creating sensory excitement for passionate food lovers.

Complex flavor profiles emerge from thoughtfully selected herbs and warm, earthy seasonings that tantalize taste buds.

Regional cooking traditions inspire this magnificent dish, blending cultural heritage with contemporary cooking techniques.

Layers of complexity unfold with each carefully combined ingredient, promising a meal that transcends typical weeknight dinners.

This recipe guarantees a delicious journey into authentic international cooking that you will absolutely adore: prepare to be amazed.

Why Mary Berry’s Chicken Tagine Is So Fragrant

• Burst with Exotic Spice Blend: This tagine delivers a symphony of warm, aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, and cinnamon that dance across your palate, transforming a simple chicken dish into a Moroccan-inspired flavor adventure.
• Savor Texture-Rich Ingredients: Tender chicken mingles with soft dried apricots and briny green olives, creating a complex, multi-dimensional eating experience that keeps every bite interesting and satisfying.
• Effortless Gourmet Cooking: With just one-pot preparation and minimal hands-on time, this recipe lets home cooks create restaurant-quality meals without complicated techniques or extensive culinary skills, making international cuisine accessible and enjoyable.
• Perfect Weeknight Dinner Solution: Ready in under 90 minutes, this hearty meal offers a nutritious, flavorful option that breaks the monotony of everyday cooking while providing a comforting, wholesome dinner that appeals to both adults and adventurous eaters.

What You Need for This Moroccan-Style Dish

• Chicken Pieces: Tender meat that forms the heart of the tagine, preferably bone-in pieces for richer flavor and juiciness.

• Onion, Garlic: Foundational flavor base that adds depth and sweetness to the dish.
• Cumin, Coriander, Ginger, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Cayenne Pepper: Warm, complex spice blend that creates the signature Moroccan tagine flavor profile.

• Olive Oil: Provides cooking fat and adds subtle richness to the dish.
• Diced Tomatoes: Creates a rich, tangy sauce base with moisture.
• Chicken Broth: Adds additional liquid and enhances overall savory flavor.
• Green Olives: Brings a salty, briny element to balance the dish.
• Dried Apricots: Adds a sweet and slightly tart counterpoint to the savory ingredients.

• Salt and Pepper: Essential for enhancing and balancing all the flavors.

• Fresh Cilantro or Parsley: Bright, fresh herb to add color and light herbal note.
• Couscous or Rice: Traditional accompaniment to soak up the flavorful sauce.

Make Chicken Tagine the Mary Berry Way

Step 1: Prepare Aromatic Base

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté 1 chopped onion and 3 minced garlic cloves until soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes.

Step 2: Brown the Chicken

Add 4-6 chicken pieces (thighs or drumsticks work best) to the skillet. Brown each piece on all sides for 5-7 minutes, creating a rich golden exterior.

Step 3: Awaken the Spices

• Cumin
• Coriander
• Ground ginger
• Cinnamon
• Turmeric
• Cayenne pepper (optional)

Toast the spices for 1-2 minutes until they release their warm, intoxicating aroma.

Step 4: Create the Flavorful Sauce

• Diced tomatoes
• Green olives
• Dried apricots
• Chicken broth

Season with salt and black pepper.

Step 5: Simmer to Perfection

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover the skillet and let it simmer gently for 45-60 minutes until the chicken becomes incredibly tender and fully cooked.

Step 6: Final Touches and Serving

Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the rich tagine over fluffy couscous or steamed rice. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro or parsley for a burst of color and freshness.

Cooking Tips for a Tender, Flavorful Tagine

• Pick Clay Cookware: Traditional tagines infuse deeper, richer flavors into your chicken dish.
• Boost Spice Intensity: Longer marinating times allow chicken to absorb complex Moroccan seasonings thoroughly.
• Control Sauce Consistency: Uncovered cooking during final minutes helps reduce liquid and concentrate taste profiles.
• Explore Alternative Pots: Heavy-bottomed Dutch ovens work perfectly when authentic tagine vessels aren’t available.
• Maximize Flavor Penetration: Minimum 30-minute spice marinade transforms ordinary chicken into extraordinary culinary experience.

Tagine Storage Tips for Keeping It Savory

Freeze Portions: Stash your delectable chicken tagine in heavy-duty freezer bags, pressing out excess air to prevent freezer burn. Squeeze portions into flat, stackable packages for maximum space efficiency and easy thawing.

Refrigerate Wisely: Seal cooled tagine in an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Pop it into the fridge, where it’ll stay fresh and tasty for 3-4 days, ready for quick reheating.

Reheat Carefully: Revive frozen or chilled tagine by thawing overnight in the refrigerator. Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, splashing in a bit of chicken broth to restore moisture and prevent drying. Avoid reheating multiple times to maintain the dish’s delightful flavor and texture.

Exciting Twists for Weeknight Tagine Meals

• Vegetarian Tagine: Replace chicken with firm tofu, tempeh, or a mix of hearty vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, and butternut squash. Keep the same spice blend and cooking method for a protein-packed plant-based version.
• Lamb Tagine: Swap chicken for tender lamb shoulder pieces, which absorb spices beautifully. Brown the meat thoroughly and follow the original recipe’s technique for rich, aromatic results.
• Seafood Tagine: Use firm white fish like cod or halibut, reducing cooking time to prevent overcooking. Add delicate seafood during the last 10-15 minutes of simmering to maintain texture and prevent breaking.
• Spicy Moroccan Tagine: Increase cayenne pepper and add harissa paste for extra heat. Include additional chili flakes or fresh chili peppers to create a more intense, fiery version of the original recipe.

A Warm Summary of Mary’s Tagine

Mediterranean magic unfolds in Mary Berry’s chicken tagine, where spices dance with tender chicken in a symphonic culinary journey.

Classic Moroccan flavors blend seamlessly, creating an exotic dish that transports palates across continents.

Fragrant spices whisper stories of North African kitchens, inviting warmth and complexity into each carefully crafted bite.

Olives and apricots provide surprising sweet-tangy notes that elevate this traditional recipe beyond ordinary meal preparations.

Authentic ingredients collaborate to produce a balanced, aromatic experience that connects global culinary traditions.

Culinary adventurers will find this tagine irresistible – so savor, share, spread the delicious word, and let passion for extraordinary cooking inspire your next kitchen exploration!

Mary Berry Chicken Tagine Recipe

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4.6 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Mary Berry’s chicken tagine brings Moroccan magic to dinner tables with fragrant spices and tender meat. Succulent chicken mingles with apricots, herbs, and a rich sauce that invites diners to savor each delightful, warmly spiced bite.

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Ingredients

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Protein:

• 1.5 lbs (700 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Base and Additional Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14 ounces/400 g) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup (150 g) pitted green olives
• ¼ cup (40 g) dried apricots, chopped
• 2 cups (480 ml) chicken broth

Garnish and Serving:

• Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
• Cooked couscous or rice, for serving

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Instructions

1. Warm a generous splash of olive oil (30 milliliters or 2 tablespoons) in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, creating a shimmering cooking surface.
2. Gently introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
3. Carefully nestle chicken pieces into the aromatic base, allowing each side to develop a rich golden-brown exterior through even browning, roughly 6-8 minutes.
4. Sprinkle an ensemble of ground spices – cumin, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and a whisper of cayenne pepper – directly onto the chicken, stirring to coat and releasing their complex aromatics for 2 minutes.
5. Pour in diced tomatoes, vibrant green olives, sweet dried apricots, and a splash of robust chicken broth, creating a luxurious simmering liquid.
6. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, balancing the flavor profile with precision.
7. Elevate the temperature momentarily to trigger a gentle boil, then immediately reduce heat to low, covering the skillet with a tight-fitting lid.
8. Allow the fragrant mixture to simmer undisturbed for 50-55 minutes, ensuring chicken becomes supremely tender and thoroughly cooked.
9. Perform a final taste assessment, adjusting seasonings as needed with additional salt, pepper, or spices.
10. Present the succulent dish atop fluffy couscous or steamed rice, garnishing with freshly chopped cilantro or parsley for a vibrant finish.

Notes

• Traditional clay tagine pots infuse a unique earthy flavor into the dish, creating an authentic Moroccan cooking experience.
• Chicken needs quality marinade time to absorb rich spices deeply, transforming ordinary meat into a spectacular meal.
• Heavy-bottomed pots with tight-fitting lids work perfectly when authentic tagine cookware isn’t available.
• Extra cooking time without lid helps sauce thicken naturally, concentrating delicious spice blend and creating luxurious texture.
• Letting chicken rest in spice mixture before cooking allows complex flavors to penetrate every fiber, guaranteeing maximum taste potential.
• Cooking temperatures between low and medium ensure tender meat without burning delicate spice combinations.
• Fresh herbs sprinkled just before serving add bright, vibrant notes that complement the deep, warming spice profile.
• Leftovers taste even better the next day as spices continue to meld and develop more intense flavors overnight.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg