Moroccan Chicken with Pearl Couscous and Chickpeas | Rachael Ray
This yummy meal was inspired by a trip Rach and John took to Morocco for her sister Maria's birthday.
SHORTCUT ALERT: Don't have time to make your own? Swap in spicy apricot-harissa.
For more recipes inspired by Rach's travels, check out her Moroccan Nachos and these Moroccan Baked Chicken Thighs.
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste
- 3 tablespoons all-fruit apricot spread
- 1 tablespoon thick/aged balsamic vinegar or balsamic drizzle
- About ½ tablespoon or 1½ teaspoons ground cumin (½ palmful)
- About ½ tablespoon or 1½ teaspoons ground coriander (½ palmful)
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon smoked cinnamon or ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves or ground allspice (a pinch)
- 10 to 12 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken (thighs, drumsticks, and breasts halved crosswise)
- Zest of 1 large lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- Salt and pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- 1 leek, cleaned and sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- Salt and pepper
- About ⅓ cup Harissa-Apricot Paste
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1½ cups chicken stock or bone broth
- 1¼ cups pearl (large) couscous
- One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup combined chopped fresh mint, cilantro and parsley
For the Harissa-Apricot Paste, combine all ingredients.
For the chicken and marinade, combine and chill several hours or overnight.
Heat a tagine bottom or Dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat with EVOO, two turns of the pan, and brown the chicken skin-side down first about 6 minutes on each side, working in 2 batches to avoid crowding pan.
Remove browned and crispy skinned chicken to a plate. Add leeks, onions, crushed garlic to the chicken drippings and let soften with salt and pepper. Add Harissa-Apricot Paste and stir, cover with the lid and allow to sweat about 3 minutes. Remove the lid and stir in tomato paste and add stock or bone broth. Let the liquid come up to a simmer, about 5 minutes. Add couscous and chickpeas, stir and nestle the chicken back into the pan, bring back up to a simmer and cover. Let cook for 15 minutes at a simmer.
To serve, add the juice of 1 lemon and top with herbs.