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Couscous Risotto with Chicken and Spinach

By Alli Berkey

Published on December 13, 2017

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Couscous Risotto with Chicken and Spinach

Ingredients

4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1-inch piecesSalt and pepper 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced thin, and washed thoroughly1 ½ cups pearl couscous 3 cups chicken broth 2 ounces (2 cups) baby spinach, chopped coarse1 ½ ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (¾ cup)½ cup frozen peas ⅓ cup heavy cream

Before You Begin

We recommend using a rasp-style grater to easily grate the Parmesan.

Instructions

  1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in Dutch oven over high heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer to bowl; set aside.
  2. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in now-empty pot over medium heat. Stir in leeks and couscous and cook until leeks have softened and couscous is lightly toasted, 4 to 6 minutes. Add broth and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until couscous is tender, about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pot and continue to simmer, covered, until chicken registers 160 degrees, about 5 minutes longer. Off heat, stir in spinach, Parmesan, peas, and cream. Serve.
Couscous Risotto with Chicken and Spinach
Photography by Kritsada Panichgul. Styling by Ashley Moore.

Couscous Risotto with Chicken and Spinach

Save

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced thin, and washed thoroughly
1 ½ cups pearl couscous
3 cups chicken broth
2 ounces (2 cups) baby spinach, chopped coarse
1 ½ ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (¾ cup)
½ cup frozen peas
⅓ cup heavy cream

Ingredients

4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced thin, and washed thoroughly
1 ½ cups pearl couscous
3 cups chicken broth
2 ounces (2 cups) baby spinach, chopped coarse
1 ½ ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (¾ cup)
½ cup frozen peas
⅓ cup heavy cream

Ingredients

4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced thin, and washed thoroughly
1 ½ cups pearl couscous
3 cups chicken broth
2 ounces (2 cups) baby spinach, chopped coarse
1 ½ ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (¾ cup)
½ cup frozen peas
⅓ cup heavy cream

Why This Recipe Works

The couscous cooks to a perfect texture, absorbing the flavors of chicken broth, and the addition of Parmesan, peas, and heavy cream brings it all together in a satisfying, weeknight-friendly meal. 

Before You Begin

We recommend using a rasp-style grater to easily grate the Parmesan.

Instructions

  1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in Dutch oven over high heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer to bowl; set aside.
  2. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in now-empty pot over medium heat. Stir in leeks and couscous and cook until leeks have softened and couscous is lightly toasted, 4 to 6 minutes. Add broth and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until couscous is tender, about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pot and continue to simmer, covered, until chicken registers 160 degrees, about 5 minutes longer. Off heat, stir in spinach, Parmesan, peas, and cream. Serve.

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