One of the features of Moroccan cooking is the way it mixes savory and sweet — a principle we give a strong nod to in this Roast Chicken with Olives, Shallots & Prunes recipe. It can also be great for patients going through cancer treatment. If your tastes have physically changed, this easy sweet and spicy update to basic roast chicken could be just the ticket to make new again a favorite that doesn’t taste the same as it used to.

8 servings

16 ingredients

30 min prep

Ingredients
  • 1 cup whole pitted green olives
  • ½ cup prunes, quartered
  • 4 medium shallots, quartered
  • 1 large lemon, cut in half, then quartered
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 (3 pound) whole chicken, quartered
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 bay leaf

Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spread the olives, prunes, shallots, and lemon in the bottom of a deep roasting pan. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and salt.
  3. Mix the cumin, salt, paprika, cayenne, and turmeric together. Rub evenly onto the chicken.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high in a wide skillet. Brown the chicken in batches, turning to brown all sides. Place the chicken on top of the olive mixture in the roasting pan. Once all the chicken has been browned, add the 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the skillet over high heat. Scrape up the bits at the bottom of the pan and cook until half has evaporated. Pour this into the roasting pan.
  5. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes or until all the chicken is cooked through. Let rest, then serve with Basic Couscous.

Chef Tips

We’ve found at our classes that making changes to basic meals by introducing different flavors and spices can really help patients get past the taste problem. It’s hard not to make comparisons when your taste buds fail you, but when you try something new, there’s less to compare it to. Be bold!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 463; Fat: 31g; Saturated Fat: 8g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g; Monounsaturated Fat: 14g; Carbohydrates: 14g; Sugar: 7g; Fiber: 3g; Protein: 33g; Sodium: 629mg

Registered Dietitian Approved

Your recipes, articles, videos, and more content are reviewed by our Registered Dietitian Kate Ueland, MS, RD, CSO, a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition, to ensure that each is backed with scientific evidence and follows the guidelines set by the Oncology Nutrition for Clinical Practice, 2nd Ed., published by the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, a professional interest group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society.

This recipe was originally published on Cook for Your Life. It is used by permission.

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