Baked Chicken and Butternut Squash Tagine

Tagine (Tajine) refers to this tasty North African stew as well as the receptacle it is cooked in. This is my take on the typical Moroccan Tagine, which often contains dried apricots or prunes, giving it a characteristic tang. My main ingredients are chicken, butternut squash, and chickpeas, but feel free to improvise with your favorite things! It would probably be pretty easy to convert to vegetarian and get the same yummy results.

This is a very filling, satisfying "winter stew" that's kept me going through these rainy days we've been having where I live. It's so easy to make, so why not try it?

Step 1: Ingredients!

You will need:

-1 whole, raw chicken, cut into serving pieces (leg, breast, wing, etc.)
-1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
-1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
-2 cups chicken broth
-Juice of 1 large orange
-1 white onion, chopped
-2 plum tomatoes, diced
-1/2 cup dried apricots
-1/2 cup chopped raw walnuts
-1 Tbsp. olive oil
-1 shallot, chopped
-1 clove garlic, chopped
-1 cinnamon stick
-pinch saffron threads
-2 Tbsp. milk or milk substitute
-1 tsp. Turmeric
-1 1/2 tsp. Cardamom
-1 1/2 tsp. Cumin
-1/2 tsp. Cayenne pepper


-salt and black pepper to taste (season and taste as you go)