Vickis Favorite Chicken With Grapes Couscous And Roasted Asparagus Recipes

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.

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.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH SHIITAKE, PROSCIUTTO AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (it should be twice as long as the pan). Lay asparagus in a pile in the center. Scatter mushrooms and prosciutto on top. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, the pepper and nutmeg. Toss vegetables to coat evenly. Lay tarragon over top.
• Fold parchment to completely enclose vegetables, and staple top and sides shut (or tie up with string). Transfer pan to oven and bake for 1 hour. Asparagus should be just cooked through. If too crisp, return to oven until done to taste.
• In a small pot over medium-high heat, bring 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons water, 2 teaspoons olive oil and remaining salt to a simmer. Stir in couscous and remove pot from heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• Spoon couscous onto serving plates and drizzle with oil. Divide prosciutto and vegetables, and their juices, among the plates and serve.

LEMONY ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add Israeli couscous. Toast couscous until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly pour in boiling water. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until couscous is tender and water has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until starting to soften, about 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high. Add asparagus and a pinch of salt; saute until asparagus is tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir lemon zest into the asparagus in the last few minutes of cooking. Add cooked couscous and toss with the asparagus mixture. Stir in lemon juice. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

ROAST CHICKEN FOR COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper, and place it on a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. Place in the oven and bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown on top. This chicken is not fully cooked, but will be further cooked with the lamb and vegetables.
• When ready to add this partly cooked chicken to the meat and vegetables, cut it into serving pieces.

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!

CHICKEN WITH GRAPES, COUSCOUS AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Trim tough ends of asparagus and save for soup. Place asparagus in a large bowl and toss with about 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of chopped thyme leaves and salt and pepper. Spread the asparagus out on a cookie sheet and roast 10 to 12 minutes until the asparagus is tender and crispy at the tips. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium high heat; add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, and 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Place flour in a shallow dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper then dredge the tenders in flour and add it to the pan. Cook chicken 7 to 8 minutes until browned. Add wine and scrape up browned bits as wine cooks down and bubbles, 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup stock to skillet. Combine cream and mustard and add to stock. Add grapes to the pan and turn chicken and grapes to coat and combine with the sauce. Simmer 5 minutes over low heat. Bring remaining 2 cups chicken stock and remaining tablespoon of fresh thyme to a boil in a small pot. Add couscous. Put a tight fitting lid on pot and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Serve tenders and grapes on couscous alongside asparagus.

WHOLE CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN & ASPARAGUS CAESAR

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Zest the lemon into a bowl. Season the cavity of the chicken, cut the zested lemon in half and push into the cavity. Put the butter in the bowl with the lemon zest, add the garlic and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Mash together, then push under the skin of the breast using your fingers. Season the skin and drizzle with a good glug of olive oil. Roast for 30 mins, then reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and cook the chicken for a further 50 mins-1 hr or until cooked through. Once cooked, cover and rest for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, for the dressing, whisk the egg yolk, anchovies, garlic and Dijon together in a bowl. Gradually whisk in both oils, then whisk in the lemon juice and, if it's a little thick, 50ml warm water, followed by the cheese and a good pinch of seasoning.
• Toss the sourdough pieces with the 1 tbsp olive oil and spread out on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 mins or until golden.
• Bring a pan of lightly salted water to the simmer. Add the asparagus and cook for 2-3 mins. Drain and leave to steam-dry for a few minutes.
• Carve the chicken. Remove both legs and cut the breast into 1cm slices. Arrange on a platter with the asparagus. Top with the croutons, two-thirds of the dressing (save the rest for leftovers - see tip below), the shaved parmesan and a grinding of black pepper.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• To cook asparagus place water in a medium saucepan; bring water to a boil. Add asparagus, and cook 2 minutes or just until crisp-tender; drain. Place asparagus in ice water 1 minute; drain. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken broth and salt; bring to a boil. Add couscous; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and cook 5 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus, black pepper, red bell pepper and cashews. Cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

VICKI'S FAVORITE CHICKEN WITH GRAPES, COUSCOUS AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Trim tough ends of asparagus and save for soup. Place asparagus in a large bowl and toss with about 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of chopped thyme leaves and salt and pepper. Spread the asparagus out on a cookie sheet and roast 10 to 12 minutes until the asparagus is tender and crispy at the tips. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium high heat; add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, and 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Place flour in a shallow dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper then dredge the tenders in flour and add it to the pan. Cook chicken 7 to 8 minutes until browned. Add wine and scrape up browned bits as wine cooks down and bubbles, 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup stock to skillet. Combine cream and mustard and add to stock. Add grapes to the pan and turn chicken and grapes to coat and combine with the sauce. Simmer 5 minutes over low heat. Bring remaining 2 cups chicken stock and remaining tablespoon of fresh thyme to a boil in a small pot. Add couscous. Put a tight fitting lid on pot and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Serve tenders and grapes on couscous alongside asparagus