Instant Pot Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Chickpeas

In this dish, the Instant Pot is used to create a dish reminiscent of a slowly braised stew in a traditional clay tagine. It's a sweet-and-savory, highly flavorful combo that will take you back to your Moroccan trip or inspire you to start planning for that Sahara camel trek. Chicken is cooked until tender with onions, garlic, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon. Apricots steep in the broth. Serve with rice or couscous and Greek yogurt.


Cuisine · African · North African · Moroccan


Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 1 hrs
Additional Time: 10 mins
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Ingredients List

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs

  • 1 large onion, sliced

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • 1 pinch saffron

  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 1 cup chicken broth

  • ⅓ cup halved dried apricots

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint


Directions

  1. Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot) and select Saute function. Place olive oil in the hot cooker and fry chicken thighs until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the inner pot and set aside.

  2. Add onion and garlic to the pot, followed by cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, red pepper flakes, and saffron. Cook and stir until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Press Cancel to leave Saute mode.

  3. Place chicken back into the pot on top of onion mixture. Pour in tomatoes and chicken broth. Sprinkle apricots over the top. Season with salt and pepper. Close and lock the lid.

  4. Select high pressure according to the manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 15 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.

  5. Release pressure using the natural-release method according to the manufacturer's instructions, 10 to 40 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Stir in chickpeas and mint leaves.

Cook's Notes:

You can also leave the dried apricots whole if you'd like.

If a thicker sauce is desired, remove chicken after you release the pressure and add in a slurry made from 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water. Press Saute mode, and return sauce to a boil. Press Cancel, and sauce will quickly thicken.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrition Facts
254 Calories
11g Fat
22g Carbs
17g Protein


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