Spiced Chicken Couscous With Cinnamon Onions Recipes

SPICED COUSCOUS AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the ginger, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the carrots and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain the carrots, reserving the cooking liquid.
• Put the couscous and chicken in a medium bowl; pour 1 cup of the hot cooking liquid on top. Stir, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds, raisins, scallions and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until the nuts are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cilantro.
• Divide the couscous and chicken among bowls. Top with the carrots and more of the cooking liquid. Sprinkle with the almond mixture and more cilantro. Top with yogurt and/or harissa.
• Per serving: Calories 441; Fat 20 g (Saturated 7 g); Cholesterol 91 mg; Sodium 853 mg; Carbohydrate 42 g; Fiber 8 g; Protein 28 g

SPICED CHICKEN COUSCOUS WITH CINNAMON ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and stir to coat. Season with salt. Sauté 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are very soft, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in sugar and cinnamon; sauté until onions are brown, about 5 minutes. (Cinnamon onions can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Coarsely puree quartered onion, lemon juice, cumin, ginger, and paprika in blender. Pour into heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Add chicken; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate chicken for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in another large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken with marinade; cook until chicken is brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Add tomatoes with juices and broth to skillet; boil until sauce thickens, about 6 minutes. Return chicken to skillet; spoon sauce over. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate and tent with foil. Boil sauce until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Rewarm cinnamon onions. Mound couscous on 4 plates. Top with chicken, sauce, and onions and serve.

SPICED CHICKEN & COUSCOUS

Steps:

• To prepare the zucchini, cut into 3 inch logs and split lengthwise in halves. Trim out the soft seeded center. Cut the halves lengthwise into strips about 1/2 inch thick on the outside. For color variation, you can replace one of the zucchini with a yellow summer squash.
• Mix together the spices in a small bowl.
• Sprinkle 1/3 of the spice blend and rub into the chicken cubes.
• In a large saucepan bring the water, broth, hot sauce to a boil. Add in the remaining spice blend. Reduce to a high simmer and cook 3 minutes.
• Place the couscous in a covered bowl along with the lemon juice. Add 1 1/3 cups of the hot spiced broth from the saucepan and cover. Let it sit until you are ready to serve.
• Add the chicken and carrots to the simmering broth and cook for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and cook an additional 2 minutes. (I like my squash fairly crisp, if you prefer it more tender then add it a bit earlier. Just make sure the total cooking time is the same.) Add the currants or raisins and cook for a final minute.
• Using a fork fluff the couscous and place the grains on a serving plate.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken, veggies and raisins to the top of the couscous. (Alternately, you can shape the couscous in a ring and place the meat and vegetables in the center.).
• Sprinkle almonds on top.
• Serve the spicy broth alongside. If you like a thicker sauce, quickly whisk in a bit of cornstarch or arrowroot into the broth and bring to a quick boil for a minute to thicken.

CINNAMON CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS AND DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ginger. Heat oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, skin side down, and cook until skin is brown, about 8 minutes. Turn chicken and transfer skillet to oven. Roast chicken until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate; tent with foil.
• Add onion to drippings in same skillet; sauté onion over medium-high heat until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add dried fruit and remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ginger; stir to coat. Add broth; bring to boil. Remove skillet from heat, stir in couscous and 1 teaspoon mint. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Season couscous to taste with salt and pepper.
• Mound couscous on platter; place chicken atop couscous. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon mint and serve.

SPICY CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 the oil in a frying pan and add the diced chicken.
• Cook until browned and put aside.
• Heat the rest of the oil in the frying pan and add the onions, zucchini, coriander, cumin and curry powder.
• Cook until the onion is transparent and the zucchini is soft.
• Add the chicken and the canned tomatoes and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile prepare the couscous.
• Add the sugar to the chicken mixture and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Serve over the couscous or mix together and serve.