Moroccan Sweet and Savory Chicken Pita

This Moroccan Sweet and Savory Chicken dish has it all: juicy chicken, caramelized onion, apricots, olives, toasted almonds and tahini lemon sauce!

When it finally starts to get warm outside the last thing I want to do is stand in front of a hot oven or stove for hours on end. In beautiful weather I just want to cook outside. One of my favourite things to cook on the barbeque is marinated chicken. It’s delicious, healthy, flavourful and cooks up quickly: everything you want in a summer meal.

When I created this recipe I was craving the earthy warmth of Moroccan chicken tagine. I wanted to make a barbequed chicken meal with the amazing flavour of chicken tagine, but with the lightness of a summer dish. The flavours in this recipe are inspired by Moroccan food, with some artistic license taken by me.

This delicious sweet and savory chicken combines beautiful marinated chicken and soft pillowy pita bread. After marinating in the fridge the chicken takes on a complex sweet, savoury, earthy flavour from the apricot, saffron, wine, and spices. Its juicy flavourful interior is perfectly contrasted by the char from the barbecue. The caramelized onion, apricots, olives, and toasted almonds add texture and flavour to each bite, while the bright tahini lemon sauce brings it all together. This Moroccan Sweet and Savoury Chicken Pita is flavourful, complex, and sumptuous, and if the chicken is marinated in advance this incredible meal easily comes together in under thirty minutes.

TOTAL TIME

• Preparation Time – 10 minutes
• Cooking Time – 14 minutes plus 2 hours marinating time
• Total Time – 2 hours 24 minutes

INGREDIENTS FOR MOROCCAN SWEET AND SAVORY CHICKEN PITA

All the ingredients for this Moroccan Chicken are easy to source from any local grocer.

Moroccan Chicken Marinade

• 2 lbs Chicken Thighs, boneless skinless (about 12)
• 1/3 cup White Wine
• 1 tbsp Apricot Preserves
• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Cilantro, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
• 1/2 tsp Tumeric Powder
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon Powder
• 1 pinch Nutmeg
• 1 pinch Saffron
• 2/3 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp Tomato Paste
• 4 turns Pepper Mill

Toppings

• 1 Vidalia Onion
• 1/4 cup Slivered Almonds
• 5 Dried Apricots
• 5 Olives
• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Tahini Sauce

• 1 Small Lemon
• 3 tbsp Tahini
• 3 tbsp Water
• 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
• 2 cloves Garlic

Moroccan Chicken Pita

• 12 Mini Pitas

IS THIS LACTOSE FREE?

Absolutely! Despite how creamy the sauce tastes, this delicious meal is totally dairy free.

CAN I MAKE THIS WITHOUT A BARBECUE?

If you don’t have a barbecue you can make this on the stove top in a heavy bottomed pan. You won’t get the same charred flavour that you get from a barbecue, but it will still taste delicious. I would suggest cooking the chicken on medium high to get a similar finish.

WHAT IS SAFFRON?

Saffron is a spice harvested from the stamen of the Saffron Crocus. It is harvested by hand during the fall season when the flower blooms. It adds an amazing depth to this dish. More information about this beautiful spice can be found here.

WHAT IS TAHINI?

Tahini is sesame paste with a taste similar to nut butter, and can be used in anything from savoury dressings to dessert. I like to buy Nuts to You brand tahini because it doesn’t have any additives. Like any natural nut/seed butter it will separate, and needs to be thoroughly mixed before use.

DOES IT MATTER WHAT KIND OF PITA I USE?

Yes. Pita is a beautiful flatbread prepared with flour, yeast, salt, water and oil and baked in an oven. There are two main kinds of pita available in grocery stores here: Greek style pitas that are soft, fluffy, and thick, and Lebanese pitas which are thin, flexible, and characterized by a pocket. I recommend using Greek pitas in this dish.

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

CAN I SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER MEAT FOR CHICKEN?

This recipe would be delicious with turkey breast as an alternative to chicken. Alternatively, Lamb would be a traditional Moroccan option.

CAN I USE FRESH APRICOTS INSTEAD OF DRIED?

No. Fresh apricots wouldn’t have the same texture in the topping for this delicious dish.

CAN I USE PREPACKAGED LEMON JUICE INSTEAD OF FRESH FRUIT?

Prepackaged lemon juice has its, but I don’t tend to buy it. It won’t ruin this recipe, but it would affect the taste. This recipe relies on fresh lemon flavour so I would suggest using it if at all possible.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE A DIFFERENT SPICE FOR SAFFRON?

Some people believe that Turmeric can be substituted for Saffron as it will add a similar yellow colour to your food. Turmeric will colour your food like Saffron, but it will not add the earthy bitterness imparted by this beautiful spice. You have to use Saffron to get an authentic flavour in this recipe.

EQUIPMENT FOR MOROCCAN SWEET AND SAVORY CHICKEN

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Below is a list of the main equipment/kitchen tools needed to make this delicious Moroccan Sweet and Savory Chicken Pita:

• Barbecue

• Large Bowl

• Frying Pan

• Small Bowl

• Kitchen Knife – Zwilling J.A. Henkel Kitchen Knife a good kitchen knife is a necessary tool for any home cook. Quality and price point varies widely. This is what I use at home. It’s a perfectly decent knife, while still being very affordable.

• Cutting Board

COOKING DIRECTIONS

This Moroccan Sweet and Savory Chicken Pita is not complicated to make. It is delicious and easy to perfect the first time if you follow a few important tips:

1. Marinate your chicken for at least two hours to ensure lots of flavour.
2. Use fresh spices and lemon.
3. Use authentic Saffron.

MAKE AHEAD STORAGE

You can marinate your chicken several hours in advance if you’d like to save time when you cook this meal.

The finished Moroccan Sweet and Savory Chicken Pitas can’t be stored and saved for later, but all the components can be refrigerated separately.

FINISHED DISH

Enjoy your amazing Moroccan Sweet and Savory Chicken Pita!

OTHER CHICKEN DISHES

Chicken Kofta with Yogurt Sauce

Yogurt Marinated Chicken Naan

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Apricot Chicken Drumsticks

Chicken and Bacon Orzo with Mushrooms

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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