Adorable Jamie Oliver's incredible TAGINE recipe--changed my life this week

I LOVE Jamie Oliver.  He is adorable.  For a few years I've watched several of his tv cooking shows which featured the Moroccan dish Tagine. 

My favorite food in the world has always been Cajun jambalaya.  I always wondered if this dish was the similar of to my much beloved jambalaya, with a different set of flavors.  

I finally made an "Oliver" tagine recipe yesterday and my instincts were correct.  The tagine is the equivalent of jambalaya with a whole different continent/experience of new, exotic flavors.

I used the recipe shown below.   This entree was easy to make, which in my experience with television cooking shows is rare.   You only need a bowl and pot:  a simple bowl to marinate the chicken in the refrigerator.  I didn't have a tagine or casserole pot as the recipe requests so I used a cast iron pot, which was a perfect substitution.  

The meal was quick to make.  But purchasing a few of the more exotic ingredients in a small town place like the Palm Springs area took more time.  The preserved lemons were the biggest challenge.  After several visits to grocery store and a call to William Sonoma I finally found them in stock at Bristol Farms .  My local Trader Joe's said they have been trying to stock it but they are sold out).  When I saw Jamie make this he used portioned, cut lemons.  The bottle that I bought I bought at Bristole was pureed/minced. 

I couldn't find fresh coriander.  I've always heard that Coriander is the same thing as the more common (in California) Cilantro?  The information on the internet was even more confusing.    I substituted ground dried coriander instead of the fresh coriander stalks.  If someone can educate me on this I would appreciate it.   Is fresh cilantro the same thing as fresh coriander leaves?

I'd never cooked or eaten (at least knowingly) fresh fennel.  It is wonderful.   Very mild.   When it was raw, it smelled and looked like fresh anise (or licorice which I detest).   When cooked, it was amazing and lovely.

I have to say that this tagine  is one of the best things I've cooked.  Usually I am not pleased with my cooking.   But this was a symphony of new flavors.   I used chicken thighs, instead of the whole chix (I don't like white meat) and the meat just fell off the bones. Served on top of couscous, OMG

 This and jambalaya are now my favorite dishes.  

Jamie Oliver’s Chicken, Olive and Preserved Lemon Tagine

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

1 whole chicken (approximately 1.5kg), preferably free range or organic, skin-on, jointed into 4 (get your butcher to do this for you)**
olive oil
1–2 large bulbs of fennel
2 onions, peeled and roughly chopped
a small bunch of fresh coriander**
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
2–3 small preserved lemons, deseeded and chopped**
80g black and green olives, stoned
a good pinch of saffron
500ml hot organic chicken stock

For the spice rub
1 heaped teaspoon coriander seeds, bashed up
1 level teaspoon ground cumin
1 heaped teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Recipe/photo source:  http://www.foodie.co.nz/jamie-olivers-chicken-olive-and-preserved-lemon-tagine/

**See paragraph above for my adaptations

Curious and FUN tv shows to watch

These are the television shows that I currently love watching.

Jamie's Food Escapes
(Cooking Channel on Cable tv)
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/jamies-food-escapes/index.html

Jamie Oliver hits the road for a culinary expedition through the world's cultures and cuisines. Travelling across Europe and North Africa, Jamie discovers as much about the people as the food. Heading off the tourist track, he finds authentic ingredients and extraordinary characters, preparing delicious recipes en route. From truffle and boar hunting in the French Pyrenees to spear fishing off an island near Athens, Jamie attempts to uncover the freshest, most authentic dishes; including the street food of Marrakesh, herring in Sweden and sweet prawns in Venice. He immerses himself in the diverse cultures, learning traditional cooking practices from the locals and taking part in their cultural ceremonies.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/


Two Fat Ladies
(Cooking Channel on Cable tv)
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/two-fat-ladies/index.html

The Two Fat Ladies are cooks, not chefs — they reject the pretensions and elaborations of haute cuisine and are aggressively unfashionable, delighting in such ingredients as clotted cream, lard and fatty meats. Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright tour Britain in their vintage Triumph Thunderbird, questing to rediscover the delights of traditional home cooking using the freshest of ingredients, as well as indulgent ones. Presenting enjoyable meals full of strong flavors and free of restraint, these flamboyant ladies have achieved worldwide cult status, united in their enthusiasms, prejudices and an unshakeable belief in their own culinary expertise.


Barefoot Contessa
(Food Network on Cable tv)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/barefoot-contessa/index.html
Popular cookbook author and magazine columnist Ina Garten throws open the doors of her Hampton's home for delicious food, dazzling ideas and good fun on Food Network's Barefoot Contessa.

The Barefoot Contessa is back and this time it's basics. You've been invited to all of her fabulous parties, and now America's hostess with the mostess, Ina Garten, lifts the veil on all her tips, sharing techniques and incredible elegant and easy recipes. Ina throws open the doors of her Hampton's home for more delicious food, dazzling ideas and good fun.

http://www.barefootcontessa.com/


One Girl, Five Gays
(Logo Network on Cable)
http://www.logotv.com/shows/one_girl_five_gays/series.jhtml

What happens when one sassy straight girl gets up close and personal with five fierce gay men? A whole lot of OMFG. Host and resident straight gal pal Aliya-Jasmine gets down and dirty with her gaggle of gays in 1 Girl 5 Gays--part talk show, part advice column, all outrageousness. Featuring real stories from a panel of hysterical guys, 1 Girl 5 Gays boldly bares it all. From jaw-dropping questions about love and sex to juicy celebrity gossip and pop culture drama, no topic is off limits for this group of hip hotties. Check in with the boys (and girl!) of 1 Girl 5. Gays to get the inside scoop on everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask!


Watch What Happens Live!
(Bravo TV on Cable tv)
http://www.bravotv.com/watch-what-happens-live
On Watch What Happens: Live, Bravo's Andy Cohen sits down every week with guests from the network's hit shows -- and from the world of entertainment -- to chat about what just transpired on-air and in pop culture. The live half-hour, which is full of viewer interaction, includes lively debates and passionate discussions about everything from fashion, to the latest Housewives drama, to the week's celebrity headlines.
Bravo viewers can get up-close and personal not only with Cohen and his guests, but also with their favorite Bravo-lebrities and contestants, by interacting via e-mail, phone, video, Twitter and Facebook.
Check them out. They're all fun, fabulous and truly unique.



Diners, Drive-ins & Dives
(Food Network on Cable tv)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives are popular again thanks to faithful baby boomers, a slew of younger fans and a whole new generation of owners. Join Guy Fieri as he visits classic "greasy spoon" spots, from a roadside shack in Tarpley, Texas to a Las Vegas sports bar with stellar stromboli.





Everything on BRAVO Tv
(Bravo TV on Cable tv)
http://www.bravotv.com/shows

This fun, festive television network features all sorts of entertaining reality shows. My current favorites, in addition to Watch What Happens Live! are (not all of these are currently in season):

• Million Dollar Listing
• Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
• Real Housewives of Atlanta
• Real Housewives of New Jersy
• Top Chef All Stars
• Flipping Out