Ingredients
Garlic Chicken:
- 2 whole garlic bulbs
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 large bunch fresh thyme, leaves only
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- One 4-to-5-pound chicken, cut into 8 to 10 parts
Couscous:
- Kosher salt
- 2 cups medium-size Israeli couscous
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 ribs celery, sliced thin on the bias
- 1 large onion, sliced
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- Large pinch saffron
- 2 zucchini, green part only, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 to 3 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
- 3 scallions, white and green, sliced thinly on the bias
Directions
For the garlic chicken: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the garlic bulbs straight on the oven rack and roast them until they are soft when squeezed, about 30 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let cool. Turn the oven up to 375 degrees F.
While garlic is roasting, prep the chicken. Into a food processor or a bowl, add the lemon zest and juice and set aside. When the garlic bulbs are cool, slice the tops off and squeeze out the roasted garlic into the bowl or food processor along with the thyme, cumin, crushed red pepper and salt to taste. Add a little olive oil and puree or mash into a loose paste. Massage the mixture all over the chicken pieces and let sit for at least 1 hour.
For the couscous: Bring a pot of well salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the couscous and cook it until it's about two-thirds of the way cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain and reserve.
Coat a large saute pan with olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and brown it on all sides.
Remove it to a plate, drain the fat and add the celery and onions. Season with salt and crushed red pepper. Deglaze with the white wine, scraping up all the crud on the bottom of the pan, and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes. Add in the saffron, zucchini, cooked couscous and chicken stock. Stir to combine, and then taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Transfer the mix to an ovenproof dish. Nestle the chicken, skin-side up, in the couscous and cover with foil. Add some more chicken stock to keep everything nice and moist. Sprinkle with pine nuts and cover with foil. Place the baking dish on a sheet pan.
Roast the chicken for 20 minutes, and then remove the foil and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and top with scallions before serving.
Photo: Garlic Chicken with Israeli Couscous Recipe
















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By irishlover52_18...
Elgin, IL
on April 28, 2013
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LOVE this recipe, though I did sub the white wine with homemade chicken stock. It turned out amazing. I just love all the garlic and the kick from the crushed red pepper.
By NeedtipsinCharlotte
Charlotte, NC
on April 28, 2013
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I really liked this recipe. Love garlic so I always try to marinate the chicken overnight. Get the most from the marinade. I almost never have fresh herbs like those. Not something I use regularly nor do I have whole seeds and ground. I use what I find in the spice isle. Works great that way too. Don't let that stop you. I also never buy Saffron. It's too mild to pay that much. I buy a Latin product called Bijol. It's what makes yellow rice yellow. It does the same thing in my mind. I highly recommend tasting the liquid when deglazing the pan and adding tomato paste etc. It was a little bland at first. Taste it then. Add salt, add lemon, whatever you feel is missing. Add more!
This was my first introduction to Israeli couscous. Now I make sure to always have some in the pantry. I tweaked it to my liking and I'm making a smaller portion of it tonight.
By rocky5766
Western MA
on April 22, 2013
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I really wanted to like this recipe! :( the chicken was okay. Not sure if I would say big garlic flavor, it was very lemony. The couscous in my opinion was not very good at all. It was super tart, and combined with the tart chicken... Almost in edible. It was definitely the worst dish j have made from this site thus far. And after spending 20$ on saffron, one of the most expensive. I gave the leftovers to the dog....and the dog didn't eat it either. I will definitely try other Recipes from Anne as she is my favorite chef.... But will NOT be making this again. If you like tarte good you might like it....as that is the only flavor profile.
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