North African Chicken Tagine

Serves 6

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. In a lightly-greased 6-quart slow cooker, combine squash, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, bay leaves, onion, garlic, raisins, and grapes.
2. In a small bowl, combine the kosher salt, black pepper, and all spices; mix well. Rub chicken pieces all over with olive oil and season on both sides with the spice blend. Preheat large sauté pan over medium-high heat; add 2 tablespoons olive oil to pan. Brown chicken on both sides until golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side; place on top of vegetables in slow cooker. Deglaze pan with 1 cup chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits in bottom of pan and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
3. Remove and discard bay leaves. Before serving, stir in sliced olives and lemon zest. Garnish the chicken with the mint and toasted slivered almonds and serve over warm couscous in shallow bowls.