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Harissa Bil Djaj

A spicy Libyan chicken stew with harissa, tomatoes, and spices simmered in broth.

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The recipe

Timeabout 1 hour

Ingredients

Contains: wheat (auto-detected from the ingredients and method; we can miss things, so check labels)

Also mentioned in the method: couscous, bread

Directions

Prepare the chicken

  1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

  2. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.

  3. Add the chicken pieces to the pot and brown them on all sides.

  4. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, harissa paste, cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, coriander, caraway seeds, salt, and pepper. Mix well to coat the chicken with the spices.

Simmer

  1. Pour in the water or chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil.

  2. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let simmer for about 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

  3. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Serve

  1. Serve the hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley. Accompany with bread or couscous to soak up the flavorful sauce.

Recipe from the Wikibooks Cookbook.

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

What each ingredient does

Chicken
Provides the main protein, which becomes tender and flavorful as it simmers in the sauce.
Olive oil
Carries the aromatics and spices, helping them release flavor and coat the chicken.
Onion
Softens and sweetens as it cooks, forming the flavor base of the sauce.
Tomato paste
Adds concentrated tomato flavor, depth, and body to the sauce.
Harissa paste
Adds chili heat and smoky, earthy spice that defines the dish's character.
Garlic
Adds pungent aroma that mellows and deepens during cooking.

The step that matters

Browning the chicken. Searing the chicken on all sides builds browned flavor through the Maillard reaction. Crowding the pot or skipping this step leaves the chicken pale and the sauce less rich.

“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.

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