Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup chopped shallots
• 3 cups Homemade Chicken Stock, recipe follows, or canned broth
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups couscous
• 1/2 cup pignoli nuts, toasted
• 1/4 cup currants

Directions

Homemade Chicken Stock:

3 (5-pound) chickens

3 large onions, unpeeled and quartered

6 carrots, unpeeled and halved

4 celery stalks with leaves, cut in thirds

4 parsnips, unpeeled and cut in 1/2, optional

20 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley

15 sprigs fresh thyme

20 sprigs fresh dill

1 head garlic, unpeeled and cut in 1/2 crosswise

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

Place the chickens, onions, carrots, celery, parsnips, parsley, thyme, dill, garlic, salt, and peppercorns in a 16 to 20-quart stockpot with 7 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Skim the surface as needed. Simmer uncovered for 4 hours. Strain the entire contents of the pot through a colander, discarding the chicken and vegetables, and chill. Discard the hardened fat, and then pack the broth in quart containers.

Yield: 6 quarts