Moroccan Spiced Chicken and Fennel

justcallmetoni's Note:

I love the spice combinations of classic Moroccan cuisine. When I found this dish in one of my favorite chicken cookbooks I had to try it, as presented this is the recipe with my modifications. The flavors are just amazing and the orange juice and spices complement the fennel and red onion just so. (7 points)

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

Chicken and Fennel

• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups fennel, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup fennel leaves, chopped
• 1 medium red onion, cut into 1 inch chunks
• 1 cup orange juice (fresh squeezed but not neccessary)
• 1/3 cup fat-free chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water

Couscous

• 1 cup uncooked couscous
• 2 cups water

Directions:

1. Combine spices with pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Season chicken to coat both sides.
2. Preheat large nonstick skillet, add olive oil. Cook chicken breasts about 5 minutes each side. Remove chicken and keep warm.
3. Add the fennel and onions to the pan and saute for 7 mnutes or so. The fennel should be tender but not mushy. If the pan appears to be too dry, add a tablespoon of water. Should be enough to moisten without steaming the vegetables.
4. Boil two cups of water with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add couscous to water and turn off heat. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff the grains before serving.
5. Add juice, broth and the last 1/4 teasppon salt and bring to a boil for about 1 minute. Add constarch mixed in 1 tablespoon of water. Stir until it just begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes.
6. Add chicken and chopped fennel , cook 2 more minutes.
7. Spoon coucous onto plate, with chicken and fennel and onions. Spoon portion of sauce on top.

Reviews

[iriemaxx]

Great recipe.....added two cloves of garlic and 1/4 tspn ground cayenne pepper to punch it up. Also, used 1/2 smoked paprica and 1/2 paprica. Fennel (anise in our market) was deliciously crunchy. Kudos!!
Madd Maxx

[lortle]

Oops - I thought I rated this after I first cooked it - it's really good! I did add some garlic and had more fennel than called for, otherwise kept everything about the same. Great mix of flavours in here! I am planning to try making a vegetarian version with chick-peas because I think that would be yummy too (and I'm trying to eat meat only very rarely nowadays.) Thanks for sharing!

[CMCGrandpa]

Great mix of flavors, I used 2lbs of chicken an increased spice mixure and the rest of the other Ingredients to match. We had for the main course for the 2 of use, next time I will add some head to it unless we are having a real spicy side dish or company. Great basic recipe to mold to your own taste, or excellent as is.