Harissa-Spiced Chicken and Rice with Dates & Pistachios

Name: Harissa-Spiced Chicken and Rice with Dates & Pistachios
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: African
Ingredients: 3 tbsp Olive Oil (3 tablespoons olive oil, divided); 1 piece Yellow Onion (1 onion, finely chopped); 0 pieces Kosher Salt (Kosher salt and pepper to taste); 2 tbsp Harissa (2 to 4 tablespoons harissa — up to 4); 3 cloves Garlic (3 cloves garlic, minced); 1 tbsp Cumin Seeds (1 tablespoon ground cumin or whole cumin seeds (see notes above)); 1 tsp Ground coriander (1 teaspoon ground coriander (see notes above)); 1 cup Basmati Rice (1 cup basmati rice, rinsed until water runs clear, do not use brown rice, see notes above); 1 piece Bay Leaves (1 bay leaf); 6 pieces Medjool Date (6 medjool dates, diced (see notes above)); 1 piece Orange (1 orange); 2 tbsp Pistachios (2 tablespoons (or more) chopped pistachios (I use roasted unsalted))

Harissa-Spiced Chicken and Rice with Dates & Pistachios - Chicken (Moroccan)

60 minAfrican

Servings6

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Vegetarian
Vegan
Dairy Free
Pescatarian
Halal
Egg Free

Steps

1Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a large skillet over high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil until it shimmers. Add the onions and reduce the heat to medium. Add a pinch of salt, and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
2Meanwhile, place the chicken in a large bowl. Season all over with salt and pepper. Pour in the remaining tablespoon of oil and 1 to 2 tablespoons of harissa, depending on your heat tolerance. Toss to coat.
3Add the garlic to the onions, and cook for another minute more. Add the spices and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the harissa (depending again on your heat tolerance). Stir to coat the onions in the seasonings. Add the rice and stir for another minute or until each grain is glistening. Add the dates and zest the orange right into the pan. Halve the orange and squeeze the juice right into the pan. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to the pan. Stir to combine. Nestle the chicken over the top of the rice. Pour 1 and 1/3 cups water (see notes above re water) all around. Nestle in the bay leaf.
4Transfer pan to the oven (uncovered) and cook for 40 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Scatter pistachios over top. Serve immediately.