Chicken Casablanca

This is a savory chicken dish with a hint of sweetness from the peas and raisins. Ras al hanout is a north African spice blend.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 401 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ⅓ cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper, or more to taste
• 1 yellow onion, diced small
• 2 stalks celery, diced small
• 1 quart reduced-sodium butternut squash soup
• 2 tablespoons ras el hanout, or to taste
• 1 cup frozen peas, rinsed and drained

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a deep pot over medium heat.

Step 2

Cook chicken breasts in hot oil until browned on both sides, but still slightly underdone in the center, 3 to 5 minutes per side; remove to a cutting board to cool.

Step 3

Stir onion into the oil in the pot; saute until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more.

Step 4

Stir celery and carrot into the onion mixture; saute together until until the celery and carrot begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and sweat the vegetable mixture until softened completely, about 10 minutes.

Step 5

Pour butternut squash soup and chicken broth into the pot; stir and bring to a simmer. Season the soup mixture with ras el hanout, cinnamon, salt, and pepper; stir. Replace cover to the pot and cook mixture at a simmer for 40 minutes.

Step 6

Cut the partially cooked chicken breasts into chunks; add to the soup mixture along with any juices that have collected on the cutting board. Stir peas and raisins into the soup mixture; simmer until the chicken pieces are no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes more.