Vickis Favorite Chicken With Grapes Couscous And Roasted Asparagus Recipes

MOROCCAN-INSPIRED CHICKEN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Make the seasoning rub. In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, tomato paste, garlic, and spices. Whisk to combine.
• Pat the chicken dry and season with kosher salt and black pepper on both side. Pour about 3/4 of the rub you just made all over the chicken (reserve the rest for later) and toss to make sure all the pieces are well coated. Set aside for now.
• Put the vegetables and onions in a mixing bowl. Season with kosher salt and black pepper and pour the remaining seasoning rub. Toss to combine.
• Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a large baking pan or rimmed sheet pan.
• Bake in the center of the heated-oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and the juices run clear. The vegetables should also soften and gain some char.
• While the chicken and veggies are baking, prepare the couscous. Boil the water or both until bubbling. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan. Add the couscous and cook, tossing regularly, until the couscous is toasted to golden brown. Season with kosher salt and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add the boiled water. Immediately turn the heat off and cover the saucepan. Leave the couscous undisturbed for 10 minutes, the couscous should absorb all the liquid. When ready, add the fresh parsley and fluff the couscous with a fork.
• When the chicken is fully cooked through, remove it from the oven. Spoon the couscous between the chicken pieces and allow it about 5 minutes to sop up some of the pan juices. Finish with the raisins, if you like.

CHICKEN & ASPARAGUS WITH COUS COUS

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in large frypan, then add chicken pieces and cook until golden.
• Throw in the bacon, olives (cut up if you wish), asparagus and 3/4 cup of the tomatoes. Cook until chicken is tender and bacon is crisp.
• Pour in the chicken stock and remaining tomatoes and cook until stock has formed a slightly thickened sauce.(Note, some or all of the chicken stock can be replaced with wine if preferred).
• Place frypan in middle of table, along with big bowl of cous cous and let people dig in!

TUSCAN-STYLE ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Place the asparagus, tomatoes and pine nuts on a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Mix 2 tablespoons oil, garlic, salt and pepper; add to asparagus and toss to coat. , Bake 15-20 minutes or just until asparagus is tender. Drizzle with remaining oil and the lemon juice; sprinkle with cheese and lemon aest. Toss to combine.

SAUTéED CHICKEN WITH ROASTED GRAPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Put half the grapes in the pan and roast 1 hour, turning grapes after 30 minutes. They will become wrinkled and golden
• Meanwhile, in a blender, purée remaining grapes until smooth. Strain through a sieve, pressing to release all juices from skins. Discard skins.
• In a large, heavy nonstick skillet, melt half the butter over high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and cook on both sides until golden brown, reducing the heat to prevent scorching, about 4 minutes per side. Add strained grape purée and simmer until chicken is cooked through and juice is syrupy, about 5 minutes. Transfer chicken to a serving platter and keep warm. Whisk remaining butter into sauce and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Add roasted grapes and heat through, then pour sauce and grapes over chicken. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Lay the asparagus on a long double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat. Spread the spears into a single layer. Fold the edges of the foil to make a tray. Roast in the oven for 5 minutes. Carefully toss the spears with tongs and roast just until tender and tips begin to brown, about 5 minutes more. Sprinkle with the zest, salt, nutmeg, and pepper, to taste, and toss to evenly distribute. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.

MOJITO CHICKEN AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
• Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Arrange asparagus on baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Season with salt and black pepper. Roast 10 minutes. Top the asparagus with almonds and roast 5 more minutes, until fork-tender and almonds are golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and sugar and cook 3 minutes, until soft stirring with wooden spoon. Add chicken and saute 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown on all sides. Add lime juice and carefully, off the heat, add the rum. Return to the heat and add lime zest, salt, pepper and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes, until chicken is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes. Serve chicken, garnished with mint, over couscous with the almond topped asparagus on the side.