Description
Mediterranean-inspired Lemon Herb Chicken Couscous Delight brings zesty flavors dancing across your plate with fresh herbs and tender chicken. Fragrant spices and light couscous create a perfect balance that invites you to savor each vibrant, delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 8 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
Herbs and Fresh Produce:
- 1 small bunch fresh parsley
- ⅓ cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 4 ribs celery with leaves, trimmed and diced
- 1 lemon, juiced
Dry Ingredients and Seasonings:
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Cancale seasoning salt to taste
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Dukkah for serving
- Oyster splitters or saltines for serving
- Extra virgin olive oil for garnish
- Water as needed
Instructions
- Submerge chicken thighs in a spacious pot, generously seasoning with salt and nestling fresh parsley sprigs on top. Fill with water until ingredients are completely covered.
- Bring liquid to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow chicken to poach slowly for approximately two hours, developing rich, deep flavor.
- Carefully extract chicken from the broth, then meticulously strain the liquid, discarding parsley remnants. Return the fragrant stock to the original cooking vessel.
- Drizzle olive oil into the pot over medium flame, introducing finely diced onions and celery. Sauté the vegetables until they transform into a translucent, softened mixture, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Sprinkle seasoning salt across the vegetables, tasting and adjusting the flavor profile to ensure a balanced and vibrant base.
- Introduce pearl couscous to the pot, gently toasting the grains for two minutes to enhance their nutty undertones.
- Pour the reserved chicken stock into the pot, followed by delicately shredded chicken meat. Elevate the temperature until the liquid reaches a vigorous boil.
- Reduce heat and allow the mixture to simmer uncovered, permitting the couscous to absorb the flavorful liquid and become perfectly tender, approximately fifteen minutes.
- Season the dish with additional salt and freshly cracked pepper, ensuring a harmonious taste throughout.
- Fold in freshly chopped dill and a bright splash of lemon juice. Continue simmering for a final five minutes to marry the flavors and heighten the dish’s aromatic qualities.
Notes
- Slow-cooking chicken creates a rich, flavorful homemade broth that forms the foundation of this comforting soup.
- Pearl couscous provides a delightful texture and absorbs the aromatic herbs and lemon perfectly.
- Choose fresh herbs like dill and parsley to elevate the soup’s brightness and depth of flavor.
- Total cooking time is approximately 2.5 hours, making this an ideal weekend meal preparation.
- Using chicken thighs ensures tender, succulent meat that easily shreds and adds richness to the dish.
- The combination of lemon juice and fresh herbs transforms a simple soup into a vibrant, refreshing meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg