Sauteed Chicken Chunks with Harissa and Couscous Recipe

Sauteed Chicken Chunks with Harissa and Couscous Recipe

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½- to 1-inch dice
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups One-Hour Chicken Stock or any chicken stock
  • 1 cup couscous
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • 2 tablespoons harissa, or more to taste
  • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 8 ounces zucchini, washed, trimmed, and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices
  • 1 cup cooked (or canned) chickpeas (rinse if canned)
  • 1 large tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced (about 1 cup; use drained canned tomatoes if you wish)
  • ½ cup shredded mint
  1. Toss the chicken with the cumin, cardamom, and salt and pepper to taste and let sit while you prepare the couscous.
  2. Bring 1½ cups of the stock to a boil. Combine the couscous, raisins, 1 tablespoon of the harissa, the 1/3 cup olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Pour the boiling stock over the couscous, stir, and seal the top of the bowl with plastic wrap. Set aside for at least 15 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, put the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet and turn the heat to high. A minute later, add the chicken and cook until it begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the zucchini and toss, still over high heat, until it begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and the remaining 1 tablespoon harissa and ½ cup stock, along with the tomato. Bring to a boil, turn the heat to low, and simmer for 2 minutes; the mixture should be brothy. Taste and add more salt, pepper, and/or harissa to taste.
  4. Serve on top of the couscous, garnished with the mint.