Moroccan · Chicken
Chicken Couscous
A quick Middle Eastern-inspired dish featuring spiced chicken cooked with couscous, dried apricots, and chickpeas in aromatic stock. This one-pan meal delivers exotic flavors with tender chicken and fluffy couscous for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
The Method
Instructions
Start by heating a good splash of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Once the oil is warm and shimmering, add the chopped onion and let it cook gently for about 1 to 2 minutes. You just want the onion to soften and start to become fragrant, not brown at this stage. This will create a lovely base for all the flavors to come together.
Next, add the chicken breast pieces to the pan. Let them fry away for about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and tender. You'll notice the onions transforming, too, turning a beautiful golden color and adding a subtle sweetness to the dish.
Now, it's time to add some warmth and spice. Grate fresh ginger over the chicken and onions, letting that sharp, zesty aroma fill the kitchen. Stir through the harissa paste, making sure every piece of chicken and onion is coated in that rich, smoky heat. Let everything cook together for about 1 more minute so those flavors really marry and develop.
Once the spiced chicken mixture is ready, tip in the chopped dried apricots, chickpeas, and couscous. These ingredients will soak up all the wonderful flavors and add texture and sweetness. Pour over the chicken stock in one go and give everything one gentle stir just to combine. Be careful not to over mix here, as you want the couscous to absorb the liquid evenly.
Cover the pan with a lid, or if you don't have one that fits, tightly cover it with foil to trap the steam. Let everything sit undisturbed for about 5 minutes. During this time, the couscous will plump up and soften beautifully as it soaks up the flavorful stock.
After the wait, remove the lid or foil and fluff up the couscous gently with a fork to separate the grains and mix everything together. Finally, scatter freshly chopped coriander over the top for a bright, herbal note that lifts the whole dish.
Serve your comforting chicken couscous warm, and if you like a bit more heat, offer some extra harissa on the side for anyone who wants to spice things up even more. Enjoy!
Next, add the chicken breast pieces to the pan. Let them fry away for about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and tender. You'll notice the onions transforming, too, turning a beautiful golden color and adding a subtle sweetness to the dish.
Now, it's time to add some warmth and spice. Grate fresh ginger over the chicken and onions, letting that sharp, zesty aroma fill the kitchen. Stir through the harissa paste, making sure every piece of chicken and onion is coated in that rich, smoky heat. Let everything cook together for about 1 more minute so those flavors really marry and develop.
Once the spiced chicken mixture is ready, tip in the chopped dried apricots, chickpeas, and couscous. These ingredients will soak up all the wonderful flavors and add texture and sweetness. Pour over the chicken stock in one go and give everything one gentle stir just to combine. Be careful not to over mix here, as you want the couscous to absorb the liquid evenly.
Cover the pan with a lid, or if you don't have one that fits, tightly cover it with foil to trap the steam. Let everything sit undisturbed for about 5 minutes. During this time, the couscous will plump up and soften beautifully as it soaks up the flavorful stock.
After the wait, remove the lid or foil and fluff up the couscous gently with a fork to separate the grains and mix everything together. Finally, scatter freshly chopped coriander over the top for a bright, herbal note that lifts the whole dish.
Serve your comforting chicken couscous warm, and if you like a bit more heat, offer some extra harissa on the side for anyone who wants to spice things up even more. Enjoy!
Pairs Well With
