Chicken Tagine with Dried Figs and Honey

>> Sunday, November 7, 2010

Chicken; Tagine; Dried Figs; Carrots; spices; figs; cilantro; yellow; orange; cuisine; color; food; fresh; warm; hot; Morocco; Arab food; couscus; grain; recipe; brown; meat; wood; fork; fruit; dried; stew; sweet; horizontal; honey
Do you ever cook a dish that as soon as you put that first taste in your mouth leaves you in a state of elation? You even do a little dance or wiggle (when no one is looking) of shear happiness, and pride. (Yep I do a happy wiggle!) You say to your self "Oh my god this is so good, why didn't I think of this before". You hold your head up high and think about all of the compliments you'll receive on this almost orgasmic dish, how they are all going to rave to everyone they meet about your amazing culinary talent, how everyone is going to ask what's your secret? And how they'll beg you to please give them the recipe. Oh yeah folks, that's a great floating in the clouds kinda feeling... Then you look down on the counter, and SMACK! There it is, the piece of paper you printed out with the recipe. Do you hear that? That's the loud sound of your bubble bursting and bringing you back to reality. Oh dam you reality! OK, so now that you are back in the real world you remember that you were not the mastermind behind this delectable dish. You were just lucky enough to have found the recipe on a great site. Man, why couldn't I have been the one to have masterminded this recipe? Perhaps we can blame the wine we drank for allowing such illusions of grandeur. And maybe next time you'll only have a very small glass of wine (on an empty stomach) instead of gulping down a normal sized glass. Neah! There's that reality bubble again.

Fresh; Purple; Fig; petals; organic; orange; flower; Gerbera; brown; vegetable; fruit; sweet; raw; recipe; sunlight

Today's exotic recipe, Chicken Tagine with Dried Figs and Honey, is a delectable feast that you can prepare in a relatively low amount of time and it won't brake the bank. Since reality hit me hard this will be another installment of my "Recipe Review", and I think you all know what I think of this recipe. I found this recipe last Autumn, as we were looking for ways to use up or enormous bag of dried figs before they became too hard. This site belongs to Valley Fig Growers (I am not being paid for this), they have so many fantastic recipes and information about many of their products. Well as soon as I read their recipe for Chicken Tagine with Dried Figs and Honey I knew immediately that it was the perfect recipe. Before the dish was done my husband came into the kitchen asking what the smell was. We both really fell in love with this recipe, it is a little sweet, spicy, hearty, healthy, exotic and oh so delicious. I prepared it so many times, I lost count, until I couldn't buy anymore dried figs at my local markets. We both have been anxiously awaiting for Autumn and fig season to arrive because that means dried figs will also be available. Yay! Insert happy dance here. I've bought the first bag and quickly prepared their recipe. I don't own the recipe so I will just provide you with a link to it and you can go to Valley Fig Growers and read the 5 star worthy recipe. I follow the recipe as is but the only change I made is that sometimes I like to serve it with spiced Millet instead of Couscous and it still taste amazing.

Fresh; Purple; Fig; petals; organic; orange; flower; Gerbera; brown; vegetable; fruit; sweet; raw; recipe; sunlight

And now for a few interesting fact about figs as found on Wikipedia: "The Common Fig is widely grown for its edible fruit throughout its natural range in the Mediterranean region, Iran, Pakistan and northern India, and also in other areas of the world with a similar climate, including Louisiana, California, Georgia, Oregon, Texas, South Carolina, and Washington in the United States, south-western British Columbia in Canada, Nuevo León and Coahuila in northeastern Mexico, as well as Australia, Chile, and South Africa. Figs can also be found in continental climate with hot summer, as far north as Hungary, and can be picked twice or thrice per year.
-It has been an important food crop for thousands of years, and was also thought to be highly beneficial in the diet.
The edible fig is one of the first plants that was cultivated by humans. Nine subfossil figs of a parthenocarpic type dating to about 9400–9200 BC were found in the early Neolithic village Gilgal I (in the Jordan Valley, 13 km north of Jericho). The find predates the domestication of wheat, barley, and legumes, and may thus be the first known instance of agriculture. It is proposed that they may have been planted and cultivated intentionally, one thousand years before the next crops were domesticated (wheat and rye).
-Figs can be eaten fresh or dried, and used in jam-making. Most commercial production is in dried or otherwise processed forms, since the ripe fruit does not transport well, and once picked does not keep well.
- Fig are richest in fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamin K, relative to human needs.Figs have a laxative effect and contain many antioxidants. They are good source of flavonoids and polyphenols."


Fresh; Purple; Fig; petals; organic; orange; flower; Gerbera; brown; vegetable; fruit; sweet; raw; recipe; sunlight

A very healthy,nutritious,fruit with a very interesting history. So what are you waiting for eat some figs. You may want to start with this recipe, Chicken Tagine with Dried Figs and Honey .
Chicken; Tagine; Dried Figs; Carrots; spices; figs; cilantro; yellow; orange; cuisine; color; food; fresh; warm; hot; Morocco; Arab food; couscus; grain; recipe; brown; meat; wood; fork; fruit; dried; stew; sweet; horizontal; honey

31 comments:

Tasty Trix November 7, 2010 at 11:59 AM  

This is so much fun! My mother in law got me a tagine for an anniversary present and I have a chicken waiting in the fridge to make chicken tagine tonight - I hope mine turns out as beautifully as yours!! xoxo

Cookin' Canuck November 7, 2010 at 12:49 PM  

Oh yes, I have done that happy wiggle before and have also had my bubble burst when I came to terms with the fact that I was not the creator of the recipe. But if you find a recipe as good as this tagine looks and you get to enjoy every bite of it, then it doesn't really matter where it comes from.

Roxan November 7, 2010 at 1:06 PM  

Hey Nancy, I do the happy wiggle too!! :) Sometimes I make Eric do it with me too Haha... I don't think it's a bubble burster that sometimes you aren't the creator of the recipe. But then again, I'm a recipe follower and rarely make dishes on my own. Sigh, someday hopefully I will be a whiz in the kitchen but for now I am still learning.

Stella November 7, 2010 at 1:41 PM  

Hey Nancy, you're too funny;-) I have totally been like 'genius, I am!' at something I made only to remember that the only real noteworthy thing I did was pick a good recipe and cook it. However, it looks like you cooked it up right!
That all being said, I grew up in an Algerian kitchen, and I know that a lot of wonderful tagine dishes from the Maghreb developed over many many years with a lot of minds and generations involved. So don't feel too bad if you can't create in one afternoon something equal to a dish that really became what it is over centuries...:)
Anyway, yummerz!

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine November 7, 2010 at 2:05 PM  

Wow spectacular photo;s makes me want to reach out and grab that fig!

Carolyn November 7, 2010 at 2:45 PM  

I do the happy wiggle when I love something, whether or not I was the original creator! But it is that much more satisfying if I am, of course. This is such a beautiful dish and your photographs are spectacular!

Nancy November 7, 2010 at 2:46 PM  

@Trix, What a great present to receive and I'm sure yours will turn out delicious.

@Dara, Absolutely true!

@Roxan, Hehe I should make my hubby do it too:) Just go for it, I know you'll have fantastic results.

@Stella, Hehe :) Wow really? That must have been so great, all of those spices and smells. Thanks for the encouragement coming from an expert like yourself that means a lot.

@Claudia, Thank you and wouldn't that be great if we could do that?

Nancy November 7, 2010 at 3:10 PM  

@Caroly, Hehe me too just can't help it:)

Rich November 7, 2010 at 3:10 PM  

Wow, healthy or not, I'd eat this just because it looks delicious!

And yes, I also love that floating-in-the-clouds-because-I-just-made-something-awesome feeling!

Lea Ann November 7, 2010 at 3:57 PM  

This looks beautiful. I've never made a tagine and this looks like a great one to start with.

Sommer November 7, 2010 at 4:49 PM  

I do the cabbage patch or the moonwalk! My kids join sometimes and it's a party in my kitchen!! I LOVE Moroccan food. And been wanting to try chicken tagine for a while. Thanks for recommending this recipe- looks so delicious!

Magic of Spice November 7, 2010 at 5:46 PM  

A happy wiggle dance...now that's fun :) The dish does look wonderful and even if the original recipe was not yours, the recreation is perfect and that is yours...
Gorgeous photos of course...I love the touch with the flower peddles.
It is so funny that we always have something in common on our posts, lol

Brie: Le Grand Fromage November 7, 2010 at 8:14 PM  

yum, that looks amazing! fabulous recipe! i love how rich the flavors are when using a tagine.

stephanie November 7, 2010 at 10:22 PM  

Sounds and looks great. Thanks for the info on figs - Love 'em but didn't know much about them.

Anonymous,  November 8, 2010 at 9:27 AM  

This is right up my alley! Actually, there's another Tunisian market in town on Thursday, so I'm thinking it's a sign I should buy a tagine. Your dish would be a great way to baptise it!

Evan @swEEts November 8, 2010 at 10:33 AM  

i definitely know that dance.. I love when you find a recipe like this! I have actually never baked or cooked with figs, but I definitely want to. This dish looks fabulous

Lady Fromage November 8, 2010 at 10:42 AM  

Always such yummy ideas!!

I just picked you for an award, since your blog always makes me drool! :) pick it up on my blog! Happy Monday! :)

Belinda @zomppa November 8, 2010 at 1:30 PM  

Yes. Nothing beats that moment of joy of good food! Love tagines...thanks for this beautiful recipe.

Tanantha @ I Just Love My Apron November 8, 2010 at 1:48 PM  

When we were in Barcelona, we had an amazing chicken tagine at the Limo restaurant! I told my husband, I would try to make this some day. I actually found a recipe I'd like to try but haven't had time to experiment. This recipe looks so good, tho. Maybe if I can get my hubby to eat figs, I will def' try this! Might have to show him all the nutrition fact you provided to get him eat this haha.

Your photos are gorgeous! Can I hire you to take a family photo for us?! :D

Rita November 8, 2010 at 5:10 PM  

This looks wonderful. I have always wanted to make a tagine but, never got there. YOu are inspiring me to try.

Unknown November 8, 2010 at 6:11 PM  

Nothing like a delicious food related idea to get the blood pumping,lol! I love this recipe and I would like to try chicken tagine sooner rather than later. Figs are wonderful with spiced chicken and this makes a lovely presentation:) Beautiful photos Nancy and congrats on your monthly recipe round up- everything looks great!

Savoring Italy November 8, 2010 at 8:02 PM  

This looks fantastic! Chicken and figs...swoon! Love it:)

Claudia November 8, 2010 at 9:15 PM  

Fun posting! I thank my lucky stars for all those who create and share - they have enriched my life. This does look like a dish worth dancing for. My grandfather had a fig tree in Queens, NYC...he was nostalgic for Italy.

penny aka jeroxie November 9, 2010 at 6:08 AM  

What a delicious combination. I, too want a tagine. I have to try it with figs next time. I want to do a happy wiggle too!

Cherine November 9, 2010 at 6:13 AM  

Your tagine looks wonderful. Love the flavors!

Dimah November 9, 2010 at 9:18 AM  

That tagine looks and sounds fantastic! Great photos!

She's Cookin' November 9, 2010 at 5:52 PM  

Original creator or not, if it makes you do a happy wiggle dance it's all good! I bet it taste as fantastic as it looks! Stunning photos - love the contrasting colors and styling, I don't think I've ever seen a fig look so sensual :)

Conor @ Hold the Beef November 9, 2010 at 7:01 PM  

I love figs and almost cannot wait for fig season to be here. Actually scrap that, I love figs, but I am also pretty happy that I have summer stretching ahead of me :D

Luckily I also love dried figs and this dish looks lovely! I like the drumstick sitting there waiting to be hoisted out.

Nancy November 10, 2010 at 5:38 PM  

So glad I'm not the only one that does a wiggle, hehe. Thank you all for your constant support and kind words. I love reading each and everyone.

@Alisha,Yes it is funny :)
@Lady Fromage, oh thank you and I'll be over soon.
@Tanantha, I'll be looking for your Tagine then. Sure, next time I'm in your area I'll bring my camera:)
@Priscilla, Ooh sensual fig :), hehe Thanks.
@Conor, I'll trade you some figs for you Summer?? Lucky you , it feels like Winter is here already, blah!

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