Palestinian Couscous with Chicken and Chickpeas (Maftoul)

Name: Palestinian Couscous with Chicken and Chickpeas (Maftoul)
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 8 whole allspice, plus 1/8 tsp. ground; 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed; 1 (3 1/2-4-lb.) chicken, quartered; 2 medium yellow onions, 1 halved, 1 minced; 1 stick cinnamon, plus 1/8 tsp. ground; Kosher salt, to taste; 3 ⁄ 4 cup olive oil; 2 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. ground cumin; 1 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. ground cardamom; 1 cup maftoul (Palestinian large-grain couscous); Freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 1 1 ⁄ 2 lemons, thinly sliced; Greek yogurt, for serving; Roughly chopped parsley, for garnish

Serves
serves 4

ARIANA LINDQUIST

This hearty couscous dish is layered with chickpeas and bathed in a broth fragrant with garlic and lemon, and served with crisp-skinned chicken. It first appeared in our December 2013 issue along with Nancy Harmon Jenkins' article Heart of Palestine.

Ingredients

8 whole allspice, plus 1/8 tsp. ground
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 (3 1/2-4-lb.) chicken, quartered
2 medium yellow onions, 1 halved, 1 minced
1 stick cinnamon, plus 1/8 tsp. ground
Kosher salt, to taste
³⁄₄ cup olive oil
2 ¹⁄₂ tsp. ground cumin
1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. ground cardamom
1 cup maftoul (Palestinian large-grain couscous)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 ¹⁄₂ lemons, thinly sliced
Greek yogurt, for serving
Roughly chopped parsley, for garnish

ADVERTISEMENTAD

Instructions

Step 1

Bring chicken, whole allspice, half each the garlic and lemon, the halved onion, cinnamon stick, salt, and 8 cups water to a boil in a 6-qt. saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered slightly, until chicken is cooked, 15–20 minutes. Using tongs, transfer chicken to a bowl. Add 1⁄4 cup oil, half the cumin, and the cardamom to the chicken and toss to coat; set aside. Increase heat to medium; simmer until stock is reduced to 4 cups, 20–25 minutes. Strain, discarding solids, into a bowl.

Step 2

Heat 1⁄4 cup oil in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Add remaining garlic and lemons and the minced onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 6–8 minutes. Add ground allspice and cinnamon, the remaining cumin, the maftoul, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring, until couscous is lightly toasted, about 4 minutes. Add 1 1⁄2 cups reserved stock; boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, covered, until couscous is tender and all the liquid is absorbed, 16–18 minutes. Uncover, fluff with a fork, and transfer to a serving platter; keep warm.

Step 3

Heat remaining oil in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin side down; cook, flipping once, until browned, 5–7 minutes. Transfer to platter with couscous. Add chickpeas to skillet with remaining stock; boil. Cook until liquid is reduced to about 1⁄2 cup, 8–10 minutes. Spoon chickpeas over chicken; garnish with parsley and serve with yogurt.