Couscous with Chicken | Easy to make North African dish. Delicious.

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Turkey is leaner, while chicken thighs are more affordable.

chickpeas

🥗Healthier: lentils

💰Cheaper: canned beans

Lentils are high in protein, and canned beans are often less expensive.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Avocado oil has healthy fats, while canola oil is budget-friendly.

couscous

🥗Healthier: quinoa

💰Cheaper: rice

Quinoa is a protein-rich alternative, and rice is widely available.

Step 1 – Marinating the chicken: Add 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp ginger powder, 1.5 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp coriander powder, ½ tsp paprika, 1 tsp baharat mix and juice from 1 medium lemon to chicken thighs and mix well. Cover and marinate for a minimum of 2 hrs to overnight.

Step 2 – Frying the chicken: Bring the chicken out of the fridge 20-30 mins before cooking. Add 1 tsp flour to chicken and mix well. Heat 3 tbsp evoo on med hi heat and cook the chicken thighs on 2-3 mins/side. Add 10-12 whole garlic cloves. Remove the chicken and garlic and put aside.

Step 3 – Cooking the vegetables: In the same pan add ½ cup diced onion, 3 tbsp chopped garlic and cook until slightly browned. Add ½ cup diced carrot and ¾ cup diced celery and cook for a few minutes. Cover and cook for 7-8 mins. Add 1 med tomato cut into chunks, then add spices and cook for a few minutes. Add optional pumpkin chunks and canned chickpeas, then add ½ cup of water and a cube of chicken/vegetable bouillon.

Step 4 – Fully cooking the chicken: Add the partially cooked chicken to the pan and cover to cook.

Step 5 – Preparing the couscous: In a bowl put 340g couscous. Add 1 cup of hot water gradually and fluff with a fork. Add a knob of butter and keep fluffing, then cover and keep aside.

Step 6 – Adding bell peppers and harissa paste: Add a cup of diced bell pepper and harissa paste to the chicken pan, then remove the chicken.

Step 7 – Add couscous to the pan: After removing the chicken, add couscous to the pan and mix well, then top it with the chicken.

Step 8 – Garnish: Garnish with whole peppers and fresh parsley.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: