The plate is adorned with beautifully golden brown chicken thighs, nestled next to spears of deep caramel-colored endive, glistening with honeyed gloss. A sprinkling of toasted almond slivers and vibrant green cilantro sprigs crown the dish.

North African Spiced Chicken with Braised Endive

Name: North African Spiced Chicken with Braised Endive
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: African
Ingredients: large endive, 4 halved lengthwise; skin-on, bone-in chicken thigh, 4 none; honey, 2 tablespoons none; harissa spice blend, 2 tablespoons none; garlic clove, 2 minced; lemon juice, 1/4 cup none; toasted almond sliver, 1/4 cup none; cilantro leaf, for garnish none; salt, to taste none; black pepper, to taste none; olive oil, 3 tablespoons none

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 35 minutes

Style African

Technique Searing

Diet Friendly Low-Carb

Daily Recipe: February 14, 2025

Creating a bridge between vibrant African flavors and the winter harvest of endive, this main course fusion dish is charismatic and flavorful, offering warmth for cool temperatures.

Ingredients (for 4)

Large endive - 4 - halved lengthwise
Skin-on, bone-in chicken thigh - 4 - none
Honey - 2 tablespoons - none
Harissa spice blend - 2 tablespoons - none
Garlic clove - 2 - minced
Lemon juice - 1/4 cup - none
Toasted almond sliver - 1/4 cup - none
Cilantro leaf - for garnish - none
Salt - to taste - none
Black pepper - to taste - none
Olive oil - 3 tablespoons - none

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍗🧂🌶️

Generously season the chicken thighs with harissa spice blend, minced garlic, and salt.
Step 2 - 🍳🔥🍗

Heat up 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook until golden brown, about 6-7 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for 6-7 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside.
Step 3 - 🍳🔥🥬

In the same pan, lower the heat to medium. Lay the endive halves cut side down and sear until it starts to brown, around 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
Step 4 - 🍯🥬🔥

Drizzle honey and left over 1 tablespoon olive oil over the endives. Cover the pan and lower the heat to allow the endives to braise until tender, about 10 minutes.
Step 5 - 🍗🍳🍋

Return cooked chicken to the pan. Pour the lemon juice over the chicken and braised endive.
Step 6 - 🥗🌿🥜

Garnish the dish with toasted almond slivers and cilantro leaves before serving.

Additional

Fun fact: Endive is rich in beta-carotene, which our body converts into vitamin A, very good for eye health. For a vegetarian variant, replace the chicken with tempeh or seared tofu.