Moroccan Style Chicken with Vegetable Couscous
I love, love harissa- it is a Moroccan style sauce with lots of flavor including some spice and sweet red peppers. It is a great way to infuse loads of flavor if roasting or grilling meats, poultry or seafood…
- 4 to 6 chicken thighs, bone in with skin on
- 2 tablespoons harissa
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 preserved lemon, chopped fine
- 1 teaspoon salt
Mix the harissa, oil, preserved lemon and salt in a small bowl and marinate the chicken with the mixture for 2 to 3 hours.
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped into 1 inch squares
- 1 large red pepper, chopped into 1 inch squares
- Salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Heat a large frying pan with the butter and olive oil. Brown the chicken pieces on high heat with skin side down- approximately 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Take the chicken out and add the chopped vegetables and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix well and turn the heat off. Place the chicken pieces on top of the vegetables and roast in oven for 30 to 35 minutes or till chicken is cooked through. Take the chicken pieces out onto a platter and cover to keep warm. Take the vegetables out and chop roughly and keep aside. Take all the liquid out of the frying pan and separate the fat and keep aside. Use the remaining liquid for the chicken before serving- it’s full of yummy flavor!
Couscous
- 2 remaining fat from the frying pan
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon harissa
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat couscous
- Salt
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
Reheat the same frying pan with the fat and olive oil. Add the chopped vegetables and the harissa. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the broth and a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and add the couscous. Cover with lid and turn heat off and let the pan sit for 10 minutes. Take lid off and fluff couscous with fork. Garnish with cilantro and mint. Serve warm with chicken on top and a drizzle of the chicken liquid!
