Chicken Tagine with Seven Vegetables

3 1/2 pounds Chicken -- cut into 8 pieces, with breasts cut in half

3 tablespoons Olive oil

1 cup Onion -- diced

3 Garlic cloves -- finely chopped

1 3/4 pounds Eggplant -- unpeeled, and cut into 1" pieces

3 cups Chicken stock -- fresh or canned

1 1/2 Cinnamon stick - (3" long)

1 teaspoon Curry powder

1 teaspoon Ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon Ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon Freshly-ground black pepper -- or to taste

1 large Carrot -- cut 1/2" dice

1 medium Zucchini -- cut 1/2" dice

1 medium White turnip -- cut 1/2" dice

1/2 Red bell pepper -- cut 1/2" dice

2 cups Medium-ripe tomatoes in 1/2" dice

1/2 cup Golden raisins

2 tablespoons Chopped fresh coriander (or 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley)

Place the cubed eggplant in a colander, salt it and let it drain for 20 minutes. Rinse well and set aside. Remove all the skin and fat from the chicken pieces. Heat a large frying pan and add 1 tablespoon of the oil.

Saute the chicken in 2 batches until opaque on both sides (a few minutes). Set aside. Heat a 6- to 8-quart casserole and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the onion, garlic and eggplant. Saute over low heat until the onion is just tender, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Add the chicken stock, cinnamon sticks, curry powder, cumin, turmeric and black pepper. Stir, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the dark chicken meat along with the carrot, zucchini, turnip and red pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Add the chicken breasts, tomato, raisins and 1 tablespoon of the coriander, pushing down lightly to be sure the ingredients are covered by the liquid. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes more.

Salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot in deep soup bowls on top of rice, noodles or couscous, garnishing the top with the remaining coriander.

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