When faced with having to take your lunch to school (work) where there are no heating facilities, options are limited. Sandwiches go soggy, leafy salads go limp and throwing $20 on takeaway adds up over the weeks. Enter Moroccan Chicken and Couscous Salad. Couscous does not really feature in my cooking repertoire and I think this is possibly the first time I have made it. I was dumbstruck at how easy it was. Although containing many elements, this salad is worth the effort and will make for a super satisfying lunchbox experience and less harrowing a Monday.
Ingredients
- 1/4 preserved lemon wedge
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 chicken breast
- large wedge of pumpkin
- handful of sultanas
- handful of ripped mint, parsley and coriander
- tablespoon ras el hanout
- tablespoon of harissa
- 3 tablespoons natural yogurt
Method
- In a medium sized bowl, pour in couscous and cover with 1 cup warm water. Place the wedge of preserved lemon in. Try and keep the wedge whole as if it breaks up it makes the couscous really sharp, a little too sharp. Let the couscous do its thing, occasionally agitating it so the lemon gets around. Slutty lemon.
- Cut the pumpkin into bite-sized cubes and drizzle with olive oil before roasting in 180˚C oven. When cooked, set aside to cool.
- Slice the chicken breast up into strips or chunks, whichever you prefer, and sprinkle with the ras el hanout. Pan-fry in some olive oil until cooked through. Set aside.
- When everything is cool, mix the chicken and pumpkin through the couscous (remove the lemon) along with torn handfuls of the coriander, parsley and mint. Sprinkle on the sultanas.
- Dollop the harissa into the yogurt and dress the salad just before eating.
The chicken is mysterious with its fragrant spice and works well with the subtle tang of the couscous and the boisterous freshness of the herbs. This is all topped off by a splash of fire on top. The perfectly balanced dish. Oh and not that I worry, but some of you might, this dish is relatively healthy so could be good for the calorie conscious diner.
