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Chermoula Chicken Legs with Cumin Roasted Beets and Tomatoes paleo recipe-min

Recipe: Chermoula Chicken Legs with Cumin Roasted Beets and Tomatoes

Chermoula is a North African flavour blend traditionally used for fish, but it’s zingy and fragrant flavours mean it is also the perfect accompaniment for roast chicken. My chicken recipes are always popular, so I thought I'd create a chicken version. Both the chicken and the vegetables rely on the cumin, which makes this dish wonderfully earthy and aromatic. The chicken is best if marinated overnight, but it’s not essential.

Recipe: Chermoula Chicken Legs with Cumin Roasted Beets and Tomatoes
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Dinner
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 2 large chicken legs
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ small white onion
  • 1 large handful coriander
  • 1 large handful parsley
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 4 medium beets, chopped into quarters
  • 1 large red onion, chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Juice half lemon
  • 2 tbsp cumin seeds
  • Salt and pepper
  • 10 – 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions
  1. Lightly toast the cumin seeds until fragrant. Grind them in a food processor, before adding the garlic, onion, coriander, parsley, lemon, pepper and paprika. Spoon the marinade (chermoula) over the chicken and massage it in. Leave to marinade for as long as you can – preferably overnight, but a couple of hours will do.
  2. When you’re ready to cook, heat the oven to 180C / 375F. Transfer the marinated chicken to a foil lined roasting dish, and cook for 45 to 50 minutes, basting once or twice.
  3. Meanwhile, combine the beets and onion in a roasting dish. Toss in the olive oil and lemon juice, and sprinkle over the cumin seeds, salt and pepper. Roast for 40 minutes, before adding the tomatoes for the final 10. Serve alongside the chicken.

Have you tried many North African recipes, like this Chermoula? I'd love to hear how you got on, and which are your favourite flavours!

Chermoula Chicken Legs with Cumin Roasted Beets and Tomatoes paleo recipe-min

Chilli and Cumin meatballs with a mango and pomegranate salsa paleo dinner recipe-min

Recipe: Chilli and Cumin meatballs with a mango and pomegranate salsa

This meatball recipe took a little while to perfect, but when I finally got there, the results were outstanding. The heat of the meatballs is balanced perfectly with the natural sweetness of the mango salsa (with an added ginger kick!). They can be pan fried or oven baked, and freeze really well too. Go on, whip up a big batch!

Meatballs Ingredients:

For the meatballs:

  • 600g lamb mince
  • 2 tbsp ground almonds
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 tsp hot paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp coriander

For the salsa:

  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1 large mango, peeled and diced
  • 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
  • Juice and zest 1 lime
  • Large chunk fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Meatballs How To:

1)    To make the meatballs, mix together all the ingredients in a large bowl with your hands until thoroughly combined. Roll into golf ball sized meatballs – this recipe makes about 12.

2)    To bake, line them on a baking tray topped with parchment paper and place on the top shelf of the oven at 180C/350F. To fry, heat a good chunk of coconut oil in a large, heavy based pan, and sizzle for around 12 minutes until thoroughly cooked through.

3)    Whilst your meatballs are cooking using your chosen method, begin making the salsa by gently heating the coconut oil in a saucepan. Add the diced mango and cook for around 5 minutes until lightly caramelised. Add the pomegranate molasses and a splash of water and stir, before mixing in the remaining ingredients. Remove from the heat, and serve alongside the meatballs and veggies of your choice.

Chilli and Cumin meatballs with a mango and pomegranate salsa paleo dinner recipe-min