Skinny Grilled Harissa Chicken Recipes

GRILLED LEMON-HARISSA CHICKEN

Steps:

• To make the marinade, combine the olive oil, capers, garlic, lemon juice, rosemary, paprika, harissa, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Pound the chicken breasts to an even 1/2-inch thickness.
• Place the chicken in a large Ziplock bag and add the marinade. Make sure the chicken is coated on all sides, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 6 hours.
• Prepare your grill by scraping it, oiling it and heating it to high.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the liquid. Place the chicken breasts a few inches apart on the grill. If you are using a charcoal grill, place the chicken directly over the hot coals.
• Grill the chicken for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, or until cooked through (the chicken should read 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted in the center). Remove the chicken from the heat, cover with foil and set aside.
• To make the sauce, in a medium saucepan combine the remaining marinade with 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Whisk the flour into 1/3 cup cool water, then add to the marinade, stirring constantly. Bring to boil to thicken the sauce slightly. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve.

HARISSA MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put the red peppers on the grill and char them until they are black on all sides. Put the peppers in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. When cool enough to handle, scrape the charred black skin off the peppers and remove the stem and seeds. Coarsely chop and reserve. This can totally be done ahead.
• Put the cumin, coriander, fennel and caraway in a dry saute pan and toast them until they become very aromatic. Grind all the spices into a coarse powder in a spice grinder.
• Coarsely chop the dried chiles, toss them into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to pulverize. Add the toasted ground spices, the roasted red peppers, chopped garlic and tomato paste. Puree until the mixture is smooth. Add 1/4 cup of the olive oil and pulse to combine. Add in another 1/4 cup of olive oil and pulse again. Season with salt, to taste, if needed. Store in an airtight container.
• Toss the chicken parts liberally with the harissa and let sit at room temperature up to 2 hours, or overnight or even a few days in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the grill to medium.
• Put the chicken on the grill and grill for 8 to 10 minutes on each side. You may have to move the chicken around, or flip it over a couple of times to prevent burning. You may also want to brush it a couple times with the leftover harissa, just remember it is pretty spicy! Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

GRILLED HARISSA CHICKEN BREASTS WITH HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine the garlic, paprika, onion powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and stir.
• Put the chicken breast in a large resealable plastic bag, then add the spice blend. Seal the bag and massage to coat the chicken with the seasoning. If time allows, let marinate for a few minutes at room temperature or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
• When ready to grill, preheat one side of the grill to high, leaving the other side cool to create indirect heating.
• Pour the olive oil into the resealable bag and massage to coat the chicken. Remove the chicken from bag, and place on the hot side of the grill. Grill, undisturbed, until you get char marks, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the chicken a quarter turn and grill, undisturbed, to achieve a crosshatch sear mark, about 2 minutes. Flip and repeat the process on the other side.
• Once you have great char on both sides, baste the chicken with a generous amount of the harissa and move the chicken to the cool side of the grill. Close the lid and cook the chicken, checking every 2 to 3 minutes for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
• Remove the chicken from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Slice on the bias and serve with the herbed couscous.
• Heat the butter in a lidded medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add the onions and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic. Add the chicken stock, stir and bring to boil. Add the couscous and stir.
• Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the herbs. Add salt and pepper, to taste.