Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian Season 5 Episode 4 Dreamin' of Tagine

Melissa d'Arabian is back with another budget-friendly episode of Ten Dollar Dinners. In this episode, titled "Dreamin' of Tagine," Melissa introduces viewers to the flavors of Morocco with her take on a classic tagine dish.

To start, Melissa heads to her local market to pick up all the ingredients she needs for her tagine. On her list are traditional spices like cumin, coriander, and cinnamon, as well as chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and chicken thighs. Melissa also adds in some fresh parsley and lemon juice to brighten up the dish.

Back in her kitchen, Melissa gets to work on her tagine. She starts by browning the chicken thighs in a large pot with some olive oil. Once they're golden and crispy, she removes them from the pot and adds in chopped onions and garlic. After the onions are translucent, Melissa adds in all of her spices, including the cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. She lets these cook for a few minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Next, Melissa adds in the sweet potatoes and chickpeas, stirring everything together to coat them with the fragrant spices and onions. She then adds back in the chicken thighs and enough chicken broth to cover the mixture. Melissa brings everything to a boil before reducing the heat and letting it simmer for around 30 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes and chicken are cooked through.

While the tagine is cooking, Melissa whips up a quick side dish of Moroccan-style carrots. She starts by sautéing some sliced carrots in butter and olive oil before adding in some honey, fresh orange juice, and a pinch of cumin. She lets these cook together until the carrots are tender and coated in the sweet and savory sauce.

Finally, Melissa assembles her tagine by spooning the fragrant and hearty mixture into bowls and topping each one with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice. She serves it alongside the Moroccan-style carrots and some warm naan bread for dipping and scooping up all the delicious flavors.

Throughout the episode, Melissa also shares tips and tricks for stretching your budget while still eating well. She emphasizes the importance of using spices to add flavor and depth to dishes, as well as buying in-season produce and shopping sales to save money.

Overall, "Dreamin' of Tagine" is a delicious and affordable introduction to the flavors of Morocco, and Melissa d'Arabian shows us just how easy it can be to recreate these exotic dishes at home.