Friends rave every time I make this dish. It's a comfort food recipe, and I especially enjoy making it on cold or rainy days. I often use a whole chicken cut into pieces and skinned. You can make the store-bought chicken stock taste more like homemade by adding some fresh herbs and parsley and simmering until it's reduced by half.
The traditional version of this classic Moroccan stew is made with homemade preserved lemons and involves a long cooking time. We've simplified the recipe by using lemon rind and juice to achieve the same subtle lemon flavor. Ours is also slow-simmered to yield a rich broth like the original's, but it's made in a fraction of the time. Since this dish is so saucy, it's best served over couscous.
Simmering the balsamic vinegar both mellows and thickens it. When tossed with the hot pasta and the butter, it forms a smooth, uniquely flavored sauce.
