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The vibrant sauce for tonight’s chicken calls on three hallmarks of Moroccan cooking: tomatoes, dried fruit and fragrant, warming spices. Along with the sautéed carrots in our brown rice, the prunes offer a sweet counterpoint to the spices, including coriander, turmeric and hot cayenne. To maximize all of the dish’s flavors, we’re browning the chicken, then simmering it in the sauce. (Remember not to spoon the sauce over the chicken—this way, the skin will stay deliciously crispy on top.)

Ethan Mick

with Prunes & Brown Rice

Moroccan Chicken

Boneless, Skin-On Chicken Thighs

Brown Rice

14-Ounce Can Whole San Marzano Tomatoes

Carrots

Garlic

Scallions

Prunes

Honey

Red Wine Vinegar

Moroccan Chicken Spice Blend (Ground Coriander, Ground Turmeric, Ground Cinnamon & Cayenne Pepper)

Ingredients

In a small pot, combine the **rice**, **a big pinch of salt** and **1** **cup of water**. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook 25 to 30 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff the cooked rice with a fork. Cover and set aside in a warm place.

Cook the rice:

While the rice cooks, wash and dry the fresh produce. [Peel the carrots;](#) halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. [Peel](#) and [mince](#) the garlic. [Cut off and discard the root ends of the scallions; thinly slice on an angle, separating the white bottoms and green tops.](#) Roughly chop the prunes. Place the tomatoes in a bowl; gently break apart with your hands.

Prepare the ingredients:

While the rice continues to cook, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the **carrots** and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until lightly browned and slightly softened. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside in a warm place. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the carrots:

While the rice continues to cook, pat the **chicken** dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken, skin sides down, and cook 4 to 6 minutes on the first side, or until golden brown. Flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a plate and set aside in a warm place.

Start the chicken:

To the pan of reserved fond, add the **garlic**, **white bottoms of the scallions**, **prunes** and **as much of the spice blend as you'd like**, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. (If the pan seems dry, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil.) Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant.

Add the **tomatoes**, **honey**, **half the vinegar** and **¼ cup of water**; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly and scraping up any fond, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until well combined. Add the **browned chicken**, skin sides up, and cook, stirring the sauce occasionally, 7 to 8 minutes, or until slightly thickened and the chicken is cooked through. Turn off the heat; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Make the sauce & finish the chicken:

To the pot of **cooked rice**, add the **cooked carrots** and **remaining vinegar**. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the finished rice and **finished chicken** **and** **sauce** between 2 dishes. Garnish with the **green tops of the scallions**. Enjoy!