Main Course · Dinner · African ·

Moroccan Spiced Chicken with Date and Olive Relish

Name: Moroccan Spiced Chicken with Date and Olive Relish
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; Salt and pepper, to taste; 1 cup pitted dates, chopped; 1/2 cup green olives, chopped; 1 small red onion, finely diced; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped; Salt, to taste

Succulent chicken infused with traditional Moroccan spices, served with a sweet and savory date and olive relish.

4.6(891 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·November 17, 2025

Moroccan Spiced Chicken with Date and Olive Relish — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

Moroccan Spiced Chicken

Date and Olive Relish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 402 kcal
Protein: 21.6 g
Carbs: 33 g
Fat: 23.2 g
Fiber: 5.1 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1606 kcal
Protein: 86.4 g
Carbs: 131.8 g
Fat: 92.9 g
Fiber: 20.2 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)	800	80	0	56	0
2 tablespoons olive oil	240	0	0	28	0
1 teaspoon ground cumin	8	0.3	0.9	0.5	0.2
1 teaspoon ground coriander	6	0.2	1.1	0.3	0.6
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon	6	0.1	2	0.1	1.4
1 teaspoon smoked paprika	6	0.3	1	0.3	0.9
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1 cup pitted dates chopped	415	3.6	110	0.6	12.7
1/2 cup green olives chopped	75	0.5	4.5	7	2.5
1 small red onion finely diced	40	1.1	9.3	0.1	1.5
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice	8	0.1	2.6	0.1	0.1
2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped	2	0.2	0.4	0	0.3
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Chicken

1
Mix spices and oil
In a large bowl, mix olive oil with cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2
Coat the chicken
Coat the chicken thighs in the spice mixture.
3
Marinate
Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
Tip: Ensure chicken is marinated adequately for the flavors to absorb completely.

Preparing the Date and Olive Relish

1
Combine ingredients
Combine chopped dates, olives, and red onion in a bowl.
2
Add dressing
Add lemon juice and parsley. Stir well to combine.
3
Season
Season with salt to taste and set aside to allow flavors to meld.
Tip: Prepare the relish a day ahead for deeper flavor integration.

How to Make Moroccan Spiced Chicken with Date and Olive Relish

Total time: 2 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Searing the Chicken
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat and sear chicken thighs on both sides until golden brown.
2
Baking the Chicken
Transfer seared chicken to a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for 25-30 minutes.
3
Simmering the Relish
While the chicken bakes, simmer the date and olive relish in a small pot over low heat for 10 minutes.