Winter balm

Dodi Newman

This tajine, with its aromas of cinnamon, ginger and quince*, is a balm for winter-weary bodies and souls. Don’t let the long list of ingredients scare you—it is really not a difficult dish to prepare. The recipe can be doubled, and leftovers freeze well. I loosely based the recipe on one for “Chicken and Walnut Tajine”, which I found on the blog part of this website: www.lesborjsdelakasbah.com

Chicken and quince* tajine

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• small pinch of crumbled saffron threads
• small handful finely chopped parsley
• Tabasco sauce to taste, optional
• 4 chicken thighs (bone in, skin on), rinsed and patted dry
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons butter, cubed
• 1 quince, peeled, cored, and cut lengthwise into 12 wedges
• 2 tablespoons butter
• lemon juice to taste

In a bowl large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer, mix together the salt, pepper, ginger, cinnamon, saffron, parsley and Tabasco sauce (if using) with enough water to make a paste. Add the thighs to the bowl, turning them until they are well-covered with the paste. Reserve.

In a heavy bottomed pan just large enough to hold the thighs in one layer, heat the oil over medium heat, add the onion and sauté it until it becomes limp. Add the chicken and all the paste, stir in the garlic, the water and the cubed butter, bring to a slow boil, cover the pan with a lid, turn the heat to low.

Now, prep the quince and, over medium heat, sauté the slices in 2 tablespoons butter, turning them often, until they begin to brown and turn a golden-orange colour—10 to 15 minutes. Add them to the pan and stir. Cover the pan again and simmer the tajine for another hour or so, adding a little more water as needed now and then; at the end, there should still be some liquid in the pan. The tajine is done when the chicken feels tender to the touch.

Before serving, check the seasoning and, if you wish, add a little lemon juice to brighten the flavour. Couscous and a green salad or vegetable go well with this.

Serves 4

*Note: Quince can be found at Middle-eastern groceries, at Produce Depot or at Cedars. Pick the yellowest, most fragrant one without blemishes. If you cannot find quince, firm, flavourful apples are a good substitute. Use one very large apple or two smallish ones and treat it/them just like the quince in the recipe, but reduce the sautéing time to 5 minutes.