Stewy Chickpeas With Squash And Chicken Braised With Apricots: Samin Nosrat’s Recipes For Cooking With Harissa

I thought I knew my harissa aft astir 2 decades of making it from scratch. Then I tasted a spoonful of rich, wine-dark paste from an unmarked jar that arrived connected my doorstep from brothers Mansour and Karim Arem. They were connected nan verge of launching Zwïta, a institution focused connected celebrating their Tunisian heritage. Whereas occidental cooks and nutrient writers are acquainted pinch galore of nan nutrient traditions of adjacent Morocco, we’ve mostly neglected to study thing astir Tunisia aliases its culinary history. And, judging by nan Arem brothers’ harissa, that’s wholly to our detriment.

Made pinch mild, sun-dried chillies, nan accepted Tunisian type of this capsicum paste is layered pinch garlic, caraway and coriander. Multidimensional successful flavour and distinctly thick, it will beryllium a revelation to anyone who has only ever encountered nan worldly squeezed from a conduit (or immoderate different type likewise doctored pinch herb products, hydrated chilli powder aliases caller peppers). Once I tasted their harissa, I began to incorporated it into my mundane cooking, stirring it into ail and herb labneh and drizzling it complete roast vegetables. One of my favourite ways to usage it is arsenic a swipe aliases marinade for chicken.

Chicken braised pinch apricots and harissa (pictured top)

Every clip I’ve made this for friends, location hasn’t been a morsel left. Since I usage mild harissa, moreover nan astir spice-averse kids thigh up each sip of braising juice and eat each wound of chickenhearted disconnected nan bone. It’s a victor if location ever was one. I urge serving this pinch steamed couscous, because it absorbs nan braising juices arsenic you eat, ensuring that you’ll get to bask each past drop.

Prep 10 min
Marinate Overnight
Cook 2 hr 15 min
Serves 4-8

For nan tebil
2 tbsp crushed coriander
1¼ tsp turmeric
½ tsp caraway seeds, ground
¼ tsp freshly crushed achromatic pepper

For nan chicken
8 bone-in, skin-on chickenhearted thighs (about 1.4kg)
Flaky oversea salt
2 tbsp mild harissa paste
3 tbsp ghee, aliases extra-virgin oliva oil
1 brownish onion, peeled and thinly sliced
2 carrots, peeled and trim into 2cm pieces
8 ail cloves, peeled and near whole
245g crushed tomatoes (tinned aliases fresh)
240ml chickenhearted stock, aliases water
2 bay leaves
1 mini fistful coriander stalks, leaves reserved for serving
160g dried apricots, halved
1 tsp crushed cumin

To serve
Coriander leaves and tender stalks
Steamed couscous, aliases elephantine couscous, aliases rice
Garlic and herb labneh
Green sauce

To make nan tebil, successful a mini bowl, operation nan coriander, turmeric, caraway and pepper.

The time earlier you scheme to cook, play nan chickenhearted generously connected some sides pinch salt. In a mean bowl, mash nan harissa pinch half nan dried herb blend. Add nan chickenhearted and swipe evenly each complete pinch nan spiced harissa paste. Cover and refrigerate overnight; bring to room somesthesia earlier cooking.

With an oven rack successful nan mediate of nan oven, power it to 190C (170C fan)/375F/gas 5. Set a large, nonreactive frying cookware connected a medium-high power and adhd nan ghee. When nan fat shimmers, adhd nan onion, carrots and garlic, and play lightly pinch brackish and nan remaining herb blend. Turn down nan power to mean and cook, stirring occasionally, until nan onions are tender, translucent and conscionable opening to return connected immoderate colour – astir 12 minutes.

Add nan tomatoes and stock, operation to deglaze, past fto nan substance return to a boil. Transfer nan substance to a 23cm × 33cm baking crockery and laic nan bay leaves and coriander stalks connected top.

Arrange nan chickenhearted tegument broadside down connected nan furniture of aromatics, past nestle nan apricots astir nan chicken. The braising liquid should travel astir halfway up nan sides of nan chicken, truthful if you’re astatine each short, adhd a scatter much banal aliases h2o to dress up nan difference. Lay a expanse of greaseproof insubstantial complete nan chicken, past screen and seal tightly pinch foil. Transfer to nan oven and navigator until nan chickenhearted is wholly tender and shows nary guidance erstwhile pierced pinch a crisp weapon – astir an hr and 30 minutes.

When nan chickenhearted is wholly tender, move nan oven rack to nan apical of nan oven and move up nan power to 220C (200C fan)/425F/gas 7. Lift disconnected nan foil and insubstantial and flip complete nan chickenhearted thighs truthful they beryllium tegument broadside up. Sprinkle nan cumin into nan braising liquid, past return nan baking crockery to nan oven and navigator until nan liquid has reduced and nan skins are crisp and aureate brownish – 18-20 minutes.

Use tongs to put nan chickenhearted successful a rimmed serving crockery aliases shallow bowl. Discard nan bay leaves and coriander stalks, sensation and set nan seasoning of nan braising juices pinch brackish arsenic needed, past spoon nan apricots and juices each complete nan chicken. Garnish pinch coriander, past service pinch steamed couscous, ail and herb labneh and greenish sauce. Refrigerate immoderate leftovers successful a covered instrumentality for up to 3 aliases 4 days, aliases frost for up to 3 months. Reheat thoroughly earlier serving.

Stewy harissa chickpeas pinch squash

Samin Nosrat’s stewy harissa chickpeas pinch wintertime squash.

Feel free to time off retired nan squash, but, if you do, see folding successful 35g aureate raisins instead.

Prep 10 min
Cook 1 hr
Serves 4-6

1 onion, peeled and finely diced
Salt
Extra-virgin oliva oil
3 ail cloves, peeled and sliced
2 tbsp herb puree
2-3 tbsp mild harissa paste
1 tsp crushed cumin
¾ tsp crushed ginger
¼ tsp freshly crushed achromatic pepper
1 pinch crushed cinnamon
560g cooked and drained chickpeas
680g peeled, seeded honeynut squash, aliases different wintertime squash, trim into 2½cm cubes
540ml chickenhearted banal
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp aged sherry vinegar
1 lemon
Chopped coriander, aliases dill aliases parsley

To service (all optional)
Pitta, aliases crusty bread
Marinated feta, aliases goat’s cheese
Labneh

In a mean casserole connected a mean heat, soften nan bulb pinch a pinch of brackish successful 3 tablespoons of oliva lipid for astir 10 minutes. Move nan bulb to nan edges of nan pot, adhd nan sliced garlic, herb puree and harissa, and navigator for astir 2 minutes, until nan ail is fragrant and nan lipid turns an orangey red.

Stir successful nan cumin, ginger, achromatic capsicum and cinnamon, time off to bloom and move fragrant, past adhd nan chickpeas and operation to coat. Add nan squash, stock, 110ml extra-virgin oliva oil, nan bay leaf, sherry vinegar and a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, sensation and set nan seasoning pinch other salt, if required. Cover and navigator astatine a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, until nan squash and chickpeas are very soft – 35-40 minutes.

Garnish pinch a compression of citrus and a showering of chopped coriander, parsley aliases dill, and service pinch crusty breadstuff aliases fluffy pitta pockets, marinated feta aliases goat’s cheese, and immoderate ail and herb labneh.

• These recipes are edited extracts from Good Things, by Samin Nosrat, published by Ebury Press astatine £30. To bid a transcript for £25.50, sojourn guardianbookshop.com