Moroccan Sunday

We were shopping(chris got a new suit) all afternoon Sunday and missed lunch. When we got back home we were so hungry. So, we snacked on some leftover chocolate chip pancakes and started cooking this delicious dish. We both love lemons and olives. They seem to be popping up in a lot of things we make. They are easy things to have around the kitchen.

Moroccan Chicken with olives and lemon

2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon- I think we put in a little more than that
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1.5 pounds chicken- we used skinless breasts, but you could use thighs or legs
1 large shallot
3 cloves minced garlic
1 lemon cut into slices (crosswise)
1 cup green olives, pitted- we threw in a few cured kalamata olives as well
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup water

1 cup dry couscous

First combine all of the spices in a bowl, mix them up really well. Then pat dry your chicken and coat it in the spice mix.

Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat and then place the chicken in the pan. Cook for about 4 minutes. Flipping once. It will get nice and brown.

Now you want to add the shallots and garlic and cook for another 15 minutes over medium-low heat. Turning the chicken once or twice during this time.

Now you can add the lemon, olives, raisins and water. Bring this to a simmer and then lower the heat and cover. Cook for about 30 minutes.


While we waited, we watched our new favorite show The Wire. Well it's not new, but it is new to us. It is so good. I think we are a little addicted.

After 30 minutes you can start the couscous. Couscous cooks really fast, about 5 minutes.


Fill your bowl with the couscous and top with chicken and all the yummy stuff in the pan.
Also, you can top it with parsley or cilantro. We forgot. We were super hungry and it smelled so good.


This was a really fast dish to make and didn't require that much work or dirty too many dishes. Chris doesn't have a dish washer so we are always trying to conserve on the amount of dishes we use. :)