Couscous au Poulet et Légumes

• Prep time: 30 minutes

• Cook time: 1 hour

• Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

• Servings: 6 servings

• Country of Origin: Algeria

• Description: Steamed semolina grains served with tender chicken and a rich, fragrant broth loaded with seasonal vegetables like zucchini, carrots, and chickpeas.

• Presentation & How It's Eaten: Served family-style in a large wide clay dish (Gsa'a) with steamed couscous crowned with chicken and vegetables, broth ladled over top, eaten with spoons.

• Ingredients:

  • 500g medium couscous semolina

  • 1 kg chicken, cut into serving pieces

  • 2 medium onions, finely sliced

  • 2 ripe tomatoes, grated

  • 1 cup cooked chickpeas

  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and halved lengthways

  • 3 medium zucchini, halved lengthways

  • 2 tbsp smen (clarified butter) or olive oil

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 1 tsp black pepper

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 4 cups water or vegetable stock

• Step-by-Step Directions:

  • Sauté Meat & Aromatics: In the bottom of a couscoussier pot, melt smen and brown chicken pieces with sliced onions and grated tomatoes for 10 minutes.

  • Add Spices & Liquid: Add cinnamon, black pepper, salt, and 4 cups of water; bring broth to a simmer.

  • Steam Semolina: Dampen couscous semolina with light salted water, rub between palms, place in top steamer basket over broth, and steam for 20 minutes.

  • Cook Vegetables: Remove steamer, add carrots and chickpeas to simmering broth, then replace steamer to steam couscous a second time for 15 minutes.

  • Add Zucchini: Add zucchini to broth during last 15 minutes of cooking until tender.

  • Assemble: Fluff steamed couscous with a tablespoon of butter, pile onto platter, lay chicken and vegetables on top, and moisten with hot broth.

• Optional:

  • Harissa Boost: Serve with a side of hot harissa paste mixed into a ladle of broth for extra heat.

• Cooking Tips:

  • Double Steaming: Steaming couscous twice over simmering broth absorbs flavorful steam and creates ultra-fluffy grains.

• Nutrition Facts:

  • Calories: ~520 kcal

  • Total Fat: 14g

  • Saturated Fat: 4g

  • Cholesterol: 85mg

  • Sodium: 620mg

  • Total Carbohydrates: 62g

  • Dietary Fiber: 7g

  • Sugars: 6g

  • Protein: 36g