Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a rondeau or similar pot over medium heat, sear the chicken in the olive oil until well browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
In the pan drippings, sweat the onions over moderate heat until very tender, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, cumin, paprika, and saffron. Cook over l