As my kitchen skills improve, and more of my recipes are turning out to be a great success, my confidence to try new cushiness is growing. I spent a little time last week researching Moroccan flavorings, and came up with this Moroccan couscous. This is an extremely flavorful dish, your tastebuds are treated to a whirlwind of flavors that each bring something to the dish. Whats even better about this meal, is that it covers all the food groups to give you a well balanced meal. This is great for runners in the heavy part of their training segment, it will help you bounce back quicker. Have you read my post on Foods to Reduce Inflammation?
#FuelYourFuture
The spice selection in this dish not only gives you an explosion of flavor, but provides many health benefits
- Chicken is one of the leanest forms of protein, important for muscle repair and the re-building of muscles that are broken in training
- Couscous contains only 173 calories per cup, compared to 210 in rice, while also bringing more protein to the dish. Couscous also contains selenium which is found in few products, but is important in the prevention of cardiovascular disease
- Carrots are packed with beta-carotene which is converted to Vitamin A to maintain vision and protect your skin from all that sun damage you are at risk to while being outside
- Chickpeas are high in protein and fiber, which helps with hunger control
- Tomatoes contain Vitamin K that helps your bones stay strong
- Cashews have a lower fat content than most nuts, and have monounsaturated fats to sustain your healthy heart
- The super spices
- Cinnamon helps to lower blood sugar
- Paprika promotes healthy blood vessel function (crucial for runners!)
- Cumin has antiseptic properties to help you fight off colds quicker
- Tumeric contains curcumin which fights cancer promoting free radicals
- Ginger helps to treat allergies related to respiratory problems!
This Moroccan couscous dish contains plenty of vibrant flavours to spice up your dinnertime. It covers all the major food groups, and changes up your carbohydrates from the usual rice and pasta. Couscous is loved all over the world for its unique shape. It adds extra protein to the dish but is still lower in calories than rice or similar grains, and is another source of potassium to top up your stores from the last weeks banana muffins!
This dish has it all; fluffy flavorful couscous, juicy chicken, crunchy cashews, and of course plenty of vegetables to help you reach your five a day!
Moroccan Couscous
Serves 4 as a main dish
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 ½ tbsp Oil
1 1/2 cups (170g) couscous
2 3/4 cups (650ml) vegetable stock
1 large chicken breast, diced
½ small onion, diced
1 carrot, in thin, short slices
1 medium tomato, cut into chunks
1/3 cup (50g) chickpeas
2 cloves garlic
1 ½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp pepper
1 ½ tsp cumin
1 ½ tsp turmeric
1 ½ tsp paprika
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ginger
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup (10g) parsley
1/4 cup (50g) cashews
Instructions
In a small bowl, combine ½ tbsp oil, 1 tsp of salt, pepper, cumin, turmeric, paprika, ½ tsp cinnamon and ½ tsp ginger. Add the chicken and mix around to coat the chicken.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cook the onions until translucent then add the seasoned chicken. Once the edges of the chicken have cooked, add the carrots and garlic and cover in between stirring regularly.
Boil the vegetable stock/water in a small saucepan. Add the couscous and remove from the heat. Allow to sit for 5 minutes until all the water has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Add the remaining spices into the couscous, along with ½ tbsp oil and stir to coat the couscous.
Meanwhile, add the chickpeas, tomatoes, lemon juice, and parsley and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the couscous and cashews. Garnish with parsley to serve.
