Spiced Couscous And Chicken Recipes

CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of the chicken broth to a boil. Stir in couscous and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the olive oil. Turn off heat, cover, and let stand 10 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir in the chicken, season with pepper, and cook until no longer pink and juices run clear. Remove chicken from the skillet, and set aside.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Stir in the jalapeno peppers and carrot, and saute about 2 minutes. Mix in the zucchini, green onions, ginger, and 1/4 cup chicken broth. Continue to cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl, blend the remaining 1 cup chicken broth with curry powder, coriander, and cornstarch. Pour over the vegetables. Return chicken to the skillet. Continue cooking about 2 minutes until chicken is coated and the broth mixture begins to thicken. Serve over the couscous.

SKILLET CHICKEN AND PEARL COUSCOUS WITH MOROCCAN SPICES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs, lime juice, olive oil, garlic and cumin. Season well with salt and pepper and stir together until the chicken is well coated in the marinade; set aside at room temperature for 25 to 30 minutes.
• In a deep, 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven with a lid, heat the grapeseed or canola oil over medium-high. When it shimmers, lift the chicken out of the marinade, allowing any excess liquid to drip back into the bowl, then add the chicken to the skillet, skin-side down. Working in batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding the pan, cook until the chicken is well browned on both sides, about 6 minutes per side. Remove and set aside on a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium, add the leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping up any brown bits that have formed on the bottom of the pan. Stir in the harissa paste, turmeric and cinnamon, and cook until lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Season well with salt.
• Add the couscous to the pan and stir until well coated in the spiced leek oil. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and add the chicken back to the pan, skin-side up, along with any accumulated juices. Cover and simmer until the couscous is al dente and the chicken is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. If you're lucky, some of the couscous may slightly stick to the bottom of the pan, creating well-seasoned crispy bites.
• Remove from the heat and remove the lid. Scatter with the herbs, if using, and the lime zest, then serve from the pan.

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.

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.

MOROCCAN-SPICED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place a rimmed baking sheet on the center rack of oven and preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix spices, 2 teaspoons salt, 3/4 teaspoon pepper, and the oil in a small bowl. Rub spice paste all over chicken.
• Carefully arrange chicken in a single layer on hot sheet, and arrange lemon wedges around chicken. Bake until chicken registers 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer and juices run clear, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and serve with pan juices and roasted lemon wedges on the side.

SPICY CHICKEN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Prepare couscous with chicken stock, according to the packet instructions. Heat olive oil in a pan and cook the onion for 2-3 mins until softened.
• Toss in chicken breast fillets and stir fry for 5-6 mins until tender. Add the blanched almonds and, when golden, stir in the hot curry paste and cook for 1 min more.
• Add the couscous along with the apricots and the coriander. Toss until hot then serve with plain yogurt if you like.