Moroccan Chicken Stew with Green Beans

Name: Moroccan Chicken Stew with Green Beans
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H40M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: african
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon tandoori spice; 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 2 cups chicken stock; One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, lightly crushed; 1 cup red lentils; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/2 pound green beans, stems trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces; 3 to 4 cups shredded chicken (from 1 rotisserie chicken); Zest of 1 lemon; Salt and ground black pepper; 4 cups steamed white rice, such as Jasmine; Chopped fresh cilantro, to garnish

Recipe courtesy of Patrick Decker

Watch how to make this recipe.

Moroccan Chicken Stew with Green Beans

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A couple of weeks ago, I posted an entry encouraging you guys to make your own tandoori spice at home, inspired by a delicious one I had found in my local market. Not being that guys that's going to leave you hanging with a rogue jar of "what do I do with that now?" spice blend, this week's "Dinner Rush" is putting it back in action to create a quick and delicious Moroccan inspired stew. The flavors of Morocco are known for rather closely treading the line between sweet and savory. Lots of the spices in our tandoori blend - cumin, ginger and turmeric, for instance - are blended with cinnamon, lemon and dried fruits to produce simply composed and intricately flavored dishes. For ease of preparation, I've borrowed only a few of those ideas. If you've got the time to get a bit crazy, though, see how a pinch of saffron and a handful each of chopped prunes and chopped green olives completely take this dish to a new level. This stew is a great idea to keep on hand, too, for a "Meatless Monday" inspiration. You can easily swap the chicken stock for veggie stock or water and the shredded chicken for a can of chick peas. Do me a huge favor, though, and don't skimp on the cilantro at the end. It cuts through the spice in the tandoori powder and gives the dish a great balance. Plus it's one of my top three favorite herbs, for those curious.

Level: Easy

Yield: 4 servings

Nutritional Analysis

Per Serving

Serving Size

1 of 4 servings

Calories

632

Total Fat

28

Saturated Fat

6

Carbohydrates

57

Dietary Fiber

12

Sugar

16

Protein

41

Cholesterol

95

Sodium

1964

Total: 40 min
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 20 min

Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings
Nutritional Analysis

Per Serving

Serving Size

1 of 4 servings

Calories

632

Total Fat

28

Saturated Fat

6

Carbohydrates

57

Dietary Fiber

12

Sugar

16

Protein

41

Cholesterol

95

Sodium

1964

Total: 40 min
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 20 min

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon tandoori spice

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 cups chicken stock

One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, lightly crushed

1 cup red lentils

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 pound green beans, stems trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces

3 to 4 cups shredded chicken (from 1 rotisserie chicken)

Zest of 1 lemon

Salt and ground black pepper

4 cups steamed white rice, such as Jasmine

Chopped fresh cilantro, to garnish

Directions

Place a large high-sided saute pan over medium heat with the oil. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring often, until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tandoori spice, cinnamon and tomato paste to the pan and continue cooking until caramelized and very aromatic, about 2 minutes.
Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, lentils and honey and bring the liquid up to a boil while scraping any caramelized bits up from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the lentils are almost cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the green beans, chicken and lemon zest to the pan and continue cooking until the lentils and beans are cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve the stew over steamed white rice garnished with cilantro.