Tajine Zitoune

Name: Tajine Zitoune
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Algerian
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces (about 1.5 kg); 200 g green olives, pitted or whole; 2 large onions, finely grated or blended; 1 preserved lemon, rind only, thinly sliced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tablespoons neutral oil or olive oil; Small bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley and coriander, chopped; 1 teaspoon ground turmeric; 1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper; Salt, to taste; 250 ml water or light chicken stock

طاجين الزيتون/tah-ZHEEN az-ZEE-toon/

About this dish

Tajine Zitoune is a traditional Algerian slow-cooked stew featuring tender chicken and green olives simmered in a fragrant sauce of onions, preserved lemon, and warm spices. It is a beloved home-cooked dish with a rich, savory flavour that reflects the broader North African and Maghrebi culinary tradition.

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Ingredients

🍗1 whole chicken, cut into pieces (about 1.5 kg)

🫒200 g green olives, pitted or whole

🧅2 large onions, finely grated or blended

🍋1 preserved lemon, rind only, thinly sliced

🧄4 cloves garlic, minced

🫙3 tablespoons neutral oil or olive oil

🌿Small bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley and coriander, chopped

🟡1 teaspoon ground turmeric

🌶️1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper

🧂Salt, to taste

💧250 ml water or light chicken stock

Method

Serves 3

Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and turmeric. Place them in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven with the oil.

Add the grated onions and minced garlic to the pot. Stir to coat the chicken evenly and cook over medium heat for 8–10 minutes, turning the chicken occasionally, until the onions soften and begin to colour slightly.

Pour in the water or stock, stir to combine, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and cook over low to medium heat for 30 minutes.

Add the green olives and the preserved lemon rind. Stir gently, then cover and continue cooking for a further 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

Taste the sauce and adjust salt and seasoning as needed. If the sauce is too thin, remove the lid and allow it to reduce over medium heat for a few minutes until it thickens to a rich, coating consistency.

Stir in the chopped parsley and coriander, reserving a little for garnish. Allow the dish to rest for a few minutes off the heat before serving.

Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs, alongside crusty bread or over a bed of steamed couscous or plain rice.

✓ What Makes it Authentic

Tajine Zitoune is a well-established dish in Algerian home cooking, particularly associated with family gatherings, celebrations, and festive occasions such as Eid. The word 'zitoune' means olive in Arabic, and olives are central to the dish's character. Like many Algerian stews, it is cooked in the style of a tajine — a slow-braised preparation — though it is commonly made in a regular pot rather than the conical clay vessel associated with Moroccan cooking.

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