Recipe(tried): LEMON CHICKEN SALAD + SPICY COUSCOUS

This is what we had for supper last night......... LEMON CHICKEN SALAD WITH SPICY COUSCOUS

Serves 2 (I doubled everything)

2 large chicken breasts
1 lemon
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp lemon oil
25g/1oz unsalted butter
1 red chilli, seeded and finely diced
1 tsp coriander seeds, lightly crushed
4 spring onions, finely diced
450ml/three quarter pint chicken stock
250g/9oz couscous
2 tbsp pickled ginger, finely chopped
grated rind and juice of 1 lime
2 plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
3 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
2 tbsp sunflower oil
50g/2oz baby salad leaves, well picked over
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground white pepper

Remove the skin and sinew from the chicken breasts and pull off the breast fillets. Using a very sharp knife, cut all the meat on the diagonal into very thin slices across the grain. Place in a non-metallic bowl and pare over the lemon rind, then add half the garlic and lemon oil. Add a pinch of salt and give about twelve turns of the pepper mill. Stir to combine, cover with clingfilm and chill for at least 30 minutes and up to six hours.

Melt the butter in a large pan and add the remaining garlic, the chilli and coriander seeds. Cook for 1 minute, stirring and then add the spring onions and stock. Bring to the boil and season to taste, then pour in the couscous in a thin steady stream, stirring all the time with a wooden spoon until the stock is absorbed. Add the pickled ginger and lime rind and mix well to combine. Remove from the heat, cover and set aside for 5 minutes, fluffing up with a fork half way through to help the grains swell up. Add the tomatoes, olive oil, lime juice and fresh coriander, stir well again and cover with clingfilm. Set aside for up to six hours.

Heat a heavy-based frying pan until very hot. Add the sunflower oil and flash fry the chicken until tender and lightly caramelised. Add the juice of half a lemon then tip out on to kitchen paper to drain. The couscous can be served at room temperature or it can be heated in a microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, just make sure you puncture the clingfilm first. Place a pile in the centre of each the serving plate and scatter around the chicken. Place the salad leaves in a bowl, season and then dress with the remaining olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Pile on top of the couscous and drizzle the remaining lemon oil around the edge of the plate to serve.

It was reall good for dessert we had lemon mousse which finished the meal of nicely
love Julie