Tajine Zitoun (Algerian Chicken and Green Olive Stew)
Local name: طاجين الزيتون
In short: Chicken braised with onion, garlic, turmeric and ginger, finished with green olives and lemon juice in a golden sauce, an Algerian family classic. It takes about 1 h 25 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 5 min
- Total
- 1 h 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 520 kcal
Tajine zitoun is a braise of chicken and green olives in a golden sauce, a common choice for family lunches and for guests in Algeria. The chicken cooks slowly with plenty of onion, garlic, turmeric and ginger until the sauce is thick and silky, then olives and lemon go in near the end so they stay bright and salty. A regular heavy pot works well in place of a clay tagine, and bread or couscous soaks up the sauce.
Instructions
- Season the chicken with 1/2 tsp of the salt and 1/2 tsp of the pepper. Heat the oil in a heavy pot and brown the chicken for about 4 minutes per side. Set it aside.
- Cook the onions in the same pot over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring, until very soft and golden. Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric and the remaining pepper and stir for 1 minute.
- Return the chicken to the pot with the remaining 1/2 tsp salt and the water. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes.
- Add the olives, uncover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce is thick and the chicken is cooked through (74°C / 165°F).
- Stir in the lemon juice and herbs. Taste, adding salt only if needed because the olives are salty, and serve with bread, couscous or rice.
Tips
- If the olives are very salty, soak them in cold water for 15 minutes or blanch them for 2 minutes before adding them.
- For extra body, add 2 sliced carrots or 200 g (7 oz) mushrooms with the water. Lamb pieces also work and need about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Questions and answers
What do you serve with tajine zitoun?
Crusty bread, couscous or plain rice, and a tomato and cucumber salad. The sauce is meant to be mopped up.
Can I use preserved lemon instead of lemon juice?
Yes. Add 1 rinsed, sliced preserved lemon rind with the olives and reduce the salt, since preserved lemon is salty.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps for 3 days in the fridge and the flavors deepen. Reheat gently and add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened.
How long does it take to make Tajine Zitoun (Algerian Chicken and Green Olive Stew)?
About 1 h 25 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tajine Zitoun (Algerian Chicken and Green Olive Stew)?
About 520 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 16 g of carbohydrates and 33 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 520 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16 g |
| Fat | 33 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 1450 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
