Tomato Chicken And Couscous Recipe

This tomato chicken recipe was inspired by the many one-dish chicken dinners that came before it. I love roasting chicken thighs with something to soak up all the flavor—be it potatoes, orzo, rice, or couscous. And what’s not to love? It’s simple to prepare, doesn’t compromise on flavor, and minimizes the kitchen tidy-up after a glorious feast!To build the flavor, I rub the thighs with a warming baharat spice blend and turmeric, then roast them on a bed of pearl couscous and vegetables. Everything cooks until tender in a sauce made of vegetable broth, tomato paste, lemon, garlic, and fresh tarragon.The chicken drippings enrich the tomato sauce, making it irresistibly savory and delicious. And, with the combination of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean ingredients, this easy dinner recipe brings a restaurant-quality flavor worthy of a dinner party or special night in.

What is in this Tomato Chicken Recipe?

Your local supermarket should house all these ingredients. If you are having difficulty finding the more specialty ingredients, such as high-quality olive oil, Baharat spice blend, or pearl couscous, you can find them in our online shop.

Extra virgin olive oil: A good quality variety makes all the difference to your cooking. Vegetables: Red and yellow bell pepper, red onion, celery, carrot, leek, and cherry tomatoes add a wholesome flavor and nutrition to the dish. Garlic: An essential aromatic for all Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking helping to elevate the flavor. Chicken thighs: Opt for skin on and bone in, which stays juicier and richer as it cooks. If you’re using skinless boneless chicken thighs adjust the timing as they tend to cook more quickly. Spices: Ground turmeric adds an earthy and vibrant flavor to the chicken thighs, while baharat spice adds a warming note (see Ingredient Spotlight below for more). Tomato paste: Combines with the vegetable broth for a rich cooking liquid to bring a bold tomato flavor. Pearl couscous: This Middle Eastern staple may look like a grain, but it’s actually a type of pasta! It is made of tiny spheres of toasted semolina flour. You can purchase pearl couscous from our online shop, or find it at select grocery stores. Just be aware that it’s different from the smaller variety which is often labeled simply “couscous.” Make sure to source those larger pearls. If you don’t have pearl couscous then orzo or rice are great alternatives. Vegetable broth: Make homemade vegetable broth with leftover vegetable scraps or homemade chicken broth. Store-bought is also fine, just try to use low sodium or seasoned lightly as you cook. Fresh tarragon packs a powerful herb with an aniseed flavor. Fresh lemon complements the sweetness of the fresh tarragon and savory chicken. Salt and freshly ground pepper: used to season the dish.

Ingredient Spotlight

Baharat spice is a Middle Eastern spice blend that layers the chicken thighs with sweet, earth, spicy flavors and a delicate floral note. The exact blend depends on the seller, with our version containing paprika, black pepper, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, smoked paprika, allspice, cardamom, and nutmeg.

LEARN MORE: All About Baharat: The Warming, Spicy, Sweet-and-Savory Wonder Spice TRY IT: Find our favorite baharat spice blend at our shop. BEST SUBSTITUTE: Ras el hanout. Although they have different flavor profiles, it will still be delicious. Alternatively, omit the baharat and just use the turmeric. Again, equally delicious.

How to Make Tomato Chicken

It’s amazing how easy such a flavorful, texture-rich dish can be. Here’s how to make this jazzed up tomato chicken:

Roast the Chicken and Veggies

Get ready. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400°F. Finely chop 1 small bunch of tarragon and set aside for later. Prep these veggies and place them in a large baking dish (about 15×12-inches) as you go. Chop 1 red and yellow bell pepper, 1 red onion, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, and 1 leek. Quarter 8 ounces of cherry tomatoes and mince 4 garlic cloves. Add 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Toss until everything is evenly coated with the olive oil. Season the chicken and roast. Pat 6 large bone-in chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then season well all over with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon each baharat and turmeric. Rub the seasoning and spices into the chicken thighs until evenly coated, then tuck the thighs into the vegetable mixture with the skin side down. Place in the hot oven to roast (uncovered) for 30 minutes.

Make the Tomato Sauce and Cook the Couscous

Add the couscous. Remove the pan from the oven and carefully transfer the chicken to a rimmed plate. To the baking dish, add 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 cups pearl couscous, and 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth. Zest in one lemon, then squeeze in its juice. Set aside a sprinkle of tarragon for garnish, then add the remaining tarragon to the dish and stir to combine.

Finish and Serve

Finish the chicken. Place the chicken thighs skin side up on top of the pearl couscous and vegetable mixture. Make sure the flesh is mostly tucked into the couscous mixture but the chicken skin is exposed–this will allow the skin to brown and get crispy. Finish baking the chicken. Return the dish to the hot oven to roast until most of the liquid has absorbed into the pearl couscous and the chicken has crispy skin, about 30 minutes. Remove the baking pan from the oven, garnish with the reserved tarragon and serve.

What to Serve with Tomato Chicken

This is a complete dish with vegetables, chicken, and pearl couscous so simply serve straight out of the oven with a sprinkle of finely chopped fresh tarragon to garnish. Should you fancy a side salad with it, I heartily recommend a simple salad such as Healthy Cucumber Salad or Persian Salad-e Shirazi to complement the citrus and delicate aniseed flavor profile.

Storage and Reheating

If you have any leftovers, store them in tight-lid glass containers in the fridge for about 3 days. Reheat either in a microwave or in a medium oven, covered in aluminum foil so it doesn’t dry out. Browse all Mediterranean recipes.