North African cooking is warm and fragrant with spice, and this recipe uses the classic Harissa paste to flavour the meaty chicken thighs. Made with onions and potatoes, this delicious slow cooker dish is a one-pot supper that the whole family will love. You can add more chilli if you prefer your food extra-spicy.
Read our tried and tested reviews of the best slow cookers.
Ingredients
- 4-6tsp harissa paste
- 8 chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat and excess skin
- 1tbsp olive oil
- 2 onions, peeled and thickly sliced
- 2-3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
- 2 sweet potatoes or 4 medium potatoes, or a mixture of the two, peeled and cut into big chunks
- 2 pickled lemons, rinsed and sliced (scoop out the flesh and slice skin)
- 600ml hot chicken stock
- 150ml tub Greek yogurt
- A good handful of roughly chopped coriander
- Couscous, pitta bread or red rice, to serve
WEIGHT CONVERTER
Method
- If you have time, rub half the harissa paste into the chicken thighs and marinate them for 1-4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat a slow-cook pot or set the oven to 160°C/320°F/Gas Mark 3.
- Warm the oil in a large frying pan, add the chicken and fry on each side until browned. Set aside. Pour off almost all the fat in the pan, then add the onion and garlic to the pan.
- Add the rest of the harissa paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the potato chunks, pickled lemon and stock. Bring to the boil. Pour into the pot, then put the chicken thighs in and cook for 3½ hours on High or longer on the Auto or Low setting. Or cook in a casserole in the oven for 2 hours, or on the hob, on the slowest simmer, for 1½–2 hours.
- Season, then serve topped with a dollop of yogurt and sprinkle of coriander. Serve with couscous, pitta bread or red rice.
Top Tip for making Slow-cooked North African chicken
Like a thicker sauce? Just add thickening granules. You can use orange or lemon zest rather than pickled lemon, if you prefer.
Sue McMahon is a former Food and Recipes Writer at GoodTo and Cooking Editor at Woman's Weekly. Her primary passion is cakes and Sue regularly travels the world teaching cake decorating. Her biggest achievement to date was winning the Prix d’honneur at La Salon Culinaire International de Londres beating over 1,200 other entries.
-
Baileys hot chocolate
This Baileys hot chocolate recipe is 418 calories per portion and has six core ingredients.
By Rosie Conroy Last updated
-
Herby chicken with Romesco sauce
Herby chicken flavoured simply with oregano with a rich Romesco sauce - which makes a great dip.
By Jessica Ransom Published
-
Chicken with cannellini beany mash
Our chicken with cannellini beany mash costs £3.50 for two portions and takes just 5 minutes to prep
By Rose Fooks Published
-
Feta and spinach stuffed chicken
This feta and spinach stuffed chicken is cooked in 25 minutes and only has four steps in the method
By Jessica Ransom Published
-
Sweet potato and courgette fish cakes
These sweet potato and courgette fish cakes take 30 minutes to make and can be served with chips, salad, or steamed veg on the side...
By Rose Fooks Published
-
Chicken and spinach lasagne
This chicken and spinach lasagne is a great new take on the family favourite and it’s easy to prepare during the day to cook come dinner time...
By Jessica Ransom Published
-
Prince William and Prince Harry’s ‘favourite’ childhood meals are surprisingly ‘normal’ and easy to recreate for family dinners
The brother's enjoyed "traditional, English food"
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Compromising may be killing your relationship - here are 5 ways to reach healthy compromises, according to relationship expert
Compromising isn't always the best way to keep the peace in a relationship
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Child psychologist unveils 'the grandparent code', a list of 12 grandparenting rules to keep family relationships strong and healthy
Some are common sense, others may be a little harder to follow...
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published