Normally I stuff chicken breasts with creamy cheese or buttery ham. When I came across this recipe for herbed couscous stuffed chicken, I got very excited. A much healthier alternative to cheese or pork, couscous is equally delicious. I love how it makes an entire meal in one chicken breast!
Feel free to get creative, if you have a bunch of parsley on hand use that instead of mint. Want to know how it's made? read more.
Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Couscous
From Everyday Food magazine
1/2 cup couscous
coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts
2 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 to 8 ounces each)
- In a small saucepan, bring 3/4 cup water to a boil.
- Add couscous; season with salt and pepper. Cover, and remove from heat; let steam 5 minutes.
- Add mint, pine nuts, scallions, lemon zest and juice, and 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper, and fluff with a fork.
- Lay chicken flat on a work surface. With a paring knife, cut a 2-inch-long slit in the thick side of each breast. Insert knife, and pivot inside chicken without enlarging opening, carefully forming a deep pocket (make sure not to pierce the opposite side). Stuff each breast with an equal amount of couscous mixture, packing it tightly.
- In a large skillet, heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place in skillet, and cook until browned on one side, 6 to 8 minutes. Carefully turn chicken over, and add 1/2 cup water to skillet (a little couscous may fall out). Cover, and cook until chicken is opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes more.
Serves 4.
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Barbara Bui
This sounds really tasty and simple. I'll probably tweak it just a bit for my family's tastes (as in, omit the mint) but I'll definitely be putting this on the menu. Thanks!
1Sounds yum! And easy to make!
2Sounds good!
3The taste would probably be really good, but I'm scared it would be a bit dry. Some dried fruits or olives could make the couscous more interesting, or maybe a sauce...
4I made this! It was very good. I substituted parsley for the mint and it turned out fine. It was not very easy for me to stuff the couscous in the chicken (it kept falling out); I believe I ended up putting some toothpicks in to hold the chicken and stuffing together. But I will make it again.
5ooooo this sounds good! its different, which i like!
6I made this for dinner last night and it was FANTASTIC!! I also used parsley instead of the mint and added some diced sun dried tomatoes to the couscous as well. I used a GIANT chicken breast and stuffed it as full with the couscous as I could get it! I served it with squash sauteed with a bit of the extra scallions. So so good! It was very pretty too! I took a picture that I'll post later!
7Mint and couscous? I'm in! I usually prepare stuffed peppers like that, but adding some chicken soudns good.
8yummers
9I made this at the last minute with whatever I had laying around (good thing I had couscous in the cupboard!), and it was fantastic! For the stuffing, I used couscous, lime juice (out of lemon), dried parsley, minced onion, celery, and bell pepper. I also added some seasoning, including black pepper, Mrs. Dash Onion and Herb, and onion powder. This was super easy, and very tasty. I will be making this again. Even the kids ate it! Great recipe.
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