At my house, weekends are the days where the kitchen comes alive with real creativity. By contrast, my midweek meals are usually extremely uninspired (I’m sure I am not alone here).
My day job is rather hectic so I’m often exhausted when I get home so quick and easy dinners are always on the cards. This can lend itself to a lot of repetition, but every now and again when preparing a weekday meal I take a moment to think outside my usual weeknight recipe box and create something new to add to my repertoire of quick weeknight meals.
This recipe is one of those new weeknight meal success stories. I’ve used harissa before in my harissa chicken wraps recipe, but I had bought harissa for that recipe not realising how easy it was to make – never again will I buy it! After seeing a recipe for harissa last week, I realised I just had to pop into the supermarket on the way home and make some to marinate chicken with for dinner. Coupled with an idea I had a few days earlier for antipasto couscous, this meal turned out to be extremely flavourful and fragrant. I knew I would be doing you a disservice by not sharing this recipe with you so that you can add it to your midweek meal repertoire too.
Homemade Harissa Chicken Skewers
SERVES TWO
4 Birdseye chillies, quartered with 1/2 seeds removed
2 long red chillies, quartered
2 cloves garlic
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ground Cumin
1 tsp ground Coriander
50g spring onions roughly chopped
Pinch salt
4 skinless chicken thighs, in 3cm cubes
In a blender, place the chilli garlic, lemon, olive oil, cumin, coriander, spring onion and salt and blend until mixture resembles a smooth paste.
Place chicken pieces in a bowl and top with half the harissa paste. Mix with your hands until the paste has well coated the chicken (adding more harissa paste if you need to). Cover with glad wrap and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes.While the chicken is marinating, soak skewers in a shallow dish of water for 30 minutes.
Thread the chicken pieces onto skewers. Heat a BBQ grill or griddle pan on high heat and cook chicken skewers for three minutes on each side or until cooked through.
Antipasto Pearl Couscous
SERVES TWO
1 teaspoon butter
1 cup Israeli (Pearl) couscous
1/4 cup semi dried tomatoes, finely chopped
1/4 cup olives, finely chopped
1/4 cup fetta stuffed pepperdews, finely chopped
1 1/4 cup vegetable stock
Heat a small saucepan on medium heat. Melt butter then add couscous stirring for 1 minute.
Add the tomatoes, olives and pepperdews and stir till well combined. Add vegetable stock and simmer on low heat until stock has been absorbed. Remove from heat and serve.
I hear you darl! My criteria for weekdays meals is to have the dish cooked within 30mins because the last thing I want is to slave around the kitchen after a tiring day at uni. So whenever I create something tasty that is easy and quick to knock up, I too feel chuffed about myself. I think I need to start sharing these meals too 🙂 This dish looks great and I've always been meaning to try pearl couscous
My recent post Game of Thrones Lemon Cakes
I wouldn't mind munching on that every night. Simple but sounds like it had bucket loads of flavour. I think I'm quite the lucky as I still live at home and dinner's always ready as I step foot in the door :S
I can almost taste this! I love the sound of just mixing all the ingredients into the couscous!
These look great! I love spicy, so these are right up my alley. Good stuff – thanks so much.
My recent post Oven Slow-Cooked BBQ Spare Ribs
Oh my god, I have the worst time thinking up weeknight meals that is not stir-fry. I have wanted to make something with harrissa and pearl couscous is my new favourite carb!
My recent post Backyard Negronis: A Video
I love Harissa! Your photography is really stunning Amanda – seriously beautiful.
My recent post {Paleo} Oven-Fried Chicken
Your photos are absolutely stunning! WOW. These chicken skewers look really tender and tasty!
Beautiful looking meal, love the sound of all those yummy flavours together!
OK is it just me or is your food styling getting even BETTER GOSH!!! Love the plates and everyone so pretty!!!! 🙂 I'd love to try these harissa chicken skewers!
I am so in love with your photos!! And the food, too 🙂
My recent post super easy spinach artichoke dip #fni
What a great idea for weeknight dinners. Beautiful photographs and I love your pearl couscous offering. I have never thought to chop and use stuffed pepperdews in a side dish or salad. Weekday meals are always a challenge!
My recent post Macadamia and Honey Cookies