Moroccan Chicken Soup

Submitted by admin on Mon, 08/17/2009 - 22:28
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Summary

Yield4
Prep Time15 minutes
RecipesSoups_Stews

Description

I love the exotic smells and flavors of Moroccan cuisine. This dish was inspired by my collaboration with chef Matthew Kenney--a real Moroccan food devotee--on our book Matthew Kenney's Mediterranean Cooking. Serve it with pocketless pita bread or other flatbread.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, about 6 ounces each, or 18 ounces chicken tenders

  • 1 medium onion, about 8 ounces

  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin

  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger

  • 1 teaspoon hot paprika or 3/4 teaspoon sweet paprika and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 5 cups chicken stock

  • 2 medium zucchini, about 12 ounces

  • 1/2 cup instant couscous

  • 1 16-ounce can chickpeas

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 8 sprigs cilantro

Instructions

1. Put the oil in a deep, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the chicken into 1/2- to 3/4- inch cubes. Add to the skillet, raise the heat to high, and stir once or twice.

2. While the chicken browns, peel and quarter the onion and put in a food processor. Pulse until just chopped. Add the onion, cumin, ginger, and paprika to the skillet. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Add the stock to the skillet and stir with a wide wooden spoon, scraping any bits from the bottom. Cover and bring to a boil, about 2 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, trim the zucchini and slice in half lengthwise. Then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch wide half-moons. When the soup comes to a boil, add the zucchini and the couscous to the skillet, stir, and cover.

4. Open the can of chickpeas into a small colander, rinse, and drain briefly. Add to the skillet. Cover and let the soup return to a boil, then lower the heat slightly so the soup simmers briskly for 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chop the leaves from the cilantro sprigs. Stir into the soup, cook for 1 minute, and serve in soup plates.

This recipe is from the book Cooking to Beat the Clock by Sam Gugino.