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Moroccan chicken couscous

Moroccan chicken couscous

Traditional Algerian cuisine, a colorful combination of Berber, Turkish, French, and Arab tastes, can be either extremely mild or packed with flavorful seasonings. Ginger, saffron, onion, garlic, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, parsley, and mint are essential in any Algerian pantry.
Couscous , the national dish, is often mistaken as a grain itself, rather than pasta. The pasta dough is a mixture of water and coarse, grainy semolina wheat particles. The dough is then crumbled through a sieve to create tiny pellets. Algerians prefer lamb, chicken, or fish to be placed on a bed of warm couscous, along with cooked vegetables such as carrots, chickpeas, and tomatoes, and spicy stews. Couscous can also be used in desserts by adding a variety of ingredients, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, dates, and figs.
No Algerian meal would be complete without bread, normally a long, French loaf. Similar to Middle Eastern customs, bread is often used to scoop food off of a plate or to soak up a spicy sauce or stew. More traditional Berber families usually eat flat, wheat bread.
Mechoui , a roasted whole lamb cooked on an outdoor spit, is usually prepared when a large group of people gathers together. The animal is seasoned with herb butter so the skin is crispy and the meat inside is tender and juicy. Bread and various dried fruits and vegetables, including dates (whose trees can thrive in the country's Sahara desert), often accompany mechoui .

Berkoukech soup  Print Recipe

The name of this soup refers to a specific type of couscous called berkoukes. Israeli or pearl couscous are good substitutes.
Berkoukes soup is found in North Africa and in the Middle East.

Serves: 6
Preparation time:20 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour 20 minutes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 lb boneless chicken, beef or lamb, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp tomato paste
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 can chickpeas, drained
2 small zucchini, diced
2/3 cup uncooked Israeli couscous
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chopped cilantro, to serve
1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent. Add meat, tomatoes, tomato paste, paprika, coriander, ginger and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until meat is lightly browned.

2. Add carrots and celery. Add 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, covered, for about one hour, until meat is cooked and beginning to become tender.

3. Add the chickpeas and zucchini. Cook for 20 minutes more, until zucchini is softened.

4. If you plan to serve the soup right away, add the couscous directly to the pot and cook according to package directions. If you prepare the soup ahead of time, save this step until just before serving, as the couscous will continue to absorb liquid.

5. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.

Chicken couscous  Print Recipe

The Chicken Couscous is a flavorful and healthy dish with exotic spices but still simple enough to make any day of the week.

Pearl couscous, sometimes also called Israeli couscous is the same as regular couscous but just a bit bigger and sometimes comes in various colors.
Serves: 8
Preparation time:20 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour 30 minutes
3 tablespoon Moroccan spice blend recipe below
4 chicken breasts about 1 1/2 lbs, boneless and skinless
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion chopped
5 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup golden raisins
14 ounce chickpeas (1 can) drained and washed
14 ounce fire roasted tomatoes (1 can)
3 cups chicken broth low sodium
1 cup pearl couscous dry
4 cups kale rinsed and roughly chopped

Moroccan Spice Blend

1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon cardamom
Preheat oven to 375 F degrees.
Combine all the Moroccan spice blend ingredients together. The recipe should yields about about 3 tbsp.

Season the chicken breasts with 2 tbsp of the Moroccan spice blend thoroughly. Use more as preferred.
In a large Dutch Oven or a oven safe pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot add the chicken breasts and sear on both sides until browned, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
The chicken will not be cooked through at all, it will just be crispy on the outside. Transfer the chicken from the pot to a plate and set aside.

Add the onion and garlic to the pot and saute for about 3 minutes until onion softens and becomes translucent and garlic is aromatic. add the remaining 1 tbsp of the Moroccan spice blend and stir.

Add the golden raisins, chickpeas, fire roasted tomatoes, chicken broth, couscous and stir well. Gently stir in the kale. Bring to a boil, then add the chicken breasts back.

Cover the pot with a lid and place in the oven. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes with the lid on, then remove the lid and cook for an additional 30 minutes.

Chicken salad  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:None
12 ounces cooked chicken
4 ounces diced celery
20 pieces pecans
1 diced shallot
2 hard cooked eggs, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup mayonnaise
salt and white pepper to taste
8 leaves lettuce
Dice chicken. Combine with celery, nuts, shallots,chopped hard cooked eggs, and lemon juice.
Fold in mayonnaise and season with salt and pepper. Serve on lettuce leaf.

Moroccan spiced chickpea soup  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
1 large onion, medium diced
6 to 8 cloves garlic, pressed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 heaping teaspoon sweet paprika
1 (14.5-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
3 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
1 quart vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (5-ounce) package pre-washed baby spinach
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onions begin to turn translucent; lower heat if browning starts to occur. Add spices and saute a minute or so. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, and sugar. Season with a couple pinches of salt and 10 grinds fresh pepper. Stir well. Chickpeas should be just covered with liquid. If level is shy, add some water so the chickpeas are just covered.
Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.
Remove soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. Stir in the spinach and let heat through until wilted, just a couple minutes.
Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Serve soup, drizzled lightly with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.

shortbread cookies with Nutella  Print Recipe

The filling for the shorbread cookies may be other than Nutella and small pieces of chocolate, soft chopped dates, or chopped prunes.
Serves: 10
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
1 1/2 cups (150 g) all purpose flour
1/2 cup (50g) cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 oz (125g) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons Nutella or semi sweet chocolate bits
1/2 cup ground coconut flakes
1/3 cup melted seedless raspberry jam
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor. Mix for a minute to form a ball. Transfer to a work surface to gather all the dough. Place in a covered bowl and refrigerate 30 minutes.
(You may also use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to accomplish the same results).
Divide the chilled dough into 20 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Make an indentation in each ball and spoon about 1 teaspoon of Nutella or chocolate bits inside. Close the dough over the filling, making sure dough is covering the filling on all sides, and pinch the top to seal the cookie. Roll to shape evenly into round or oval shapes.
Place cookies on cookie sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool on the pans. Brush cookies with jam and sprinkle with coconut.

Moroccan spiced chicken breasts  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons canola oil

For Moroccan spice mix:

1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon hot chili powder
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Moroccan spice mix:
Mix ingredients together thoroughly.
Use as directed in Moroccan spiced chicken.

To prepare Moroccan spiced chicken breasts:
Blend the spice mix and olive oil in a shallow bowl. Pat chicken dry and dredge in the spice paste, turning to coat completely. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Sauté the chicken breasts until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.
Serve with coucous or rice.

Moroccan spiced chickpea soup  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
1 large onion, medium diced
6 to 8 cloves garlic, pressed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 heaping teaspoon sweet paprika
1 (14.5-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
3 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
1 quart vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (5-ounce) package pre-washed baby spinach
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onions begin to turn translucent; lower heat if browning starts to occur. Add spices and saute a minute or so. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, and sugar. Season with a couple pinches of salt and 10 grinds fresh pepper. Stir well. Chickpeas should be just covered with liquid. If level is shy, add some water so the chickpeas are just covered.
Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.
Remove soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. Stir in the spinach and let heat through until wilted, just a couple minutes.
Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Serve soup, drizzled lightly with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.

Skillet chicken and rice  Print Recipe

A quick and easy dinner on the table in no time
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
454 g (1Lb) skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes;
300 ml (10oz - 1can) condensed chicken broth;
125 ml (½ cup) water;
250 ml (1 cup) carrots, sliced;
250 ml (1 cup) green beans, cut;
2 ml (½ tsp) dried basil leaves, crushed;
2 ml (½ tsp) garlic powder;
175 ml (3/4 cup) uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 cup steamed green peas
In a non-stick skillet over medium high heat, cook chicken until browned, stirring often, set aside chicken.
Add broth, water, carrots, green beans, basil and garlic powder. Heat to a boil.
Stir in rice. Cover and simmer over low heat 5 minutes. Return chicken to pan.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken and rice are done. Garnish with peas and serve.
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