Chicken and Couscous Soup
My mother likes to tease me about how I had no sense of the seasons when I was a child, picking sweaters and boots in the summer and insisting on going to school in shorts in the winter. Judging by my childhood pictures, it looks like I often had my way in the vestimentary department. Every time I see her, she likes to remind me of it as proof that I have always been têtue comme une mule, stubborn like a mule.
I don’t know about the mule thing, I think I’m rather docile as a lamb, well, at least when things are aligned with my will, you see, so I’m not really all that stubborn after all. As for my season confusion, I will give her that. It’s true when it comes to clothes and it’s true also when it comes to food. I crave stews and soulful food in the summer all the time. Lately, the increase in temperature has inspired me to take on soup experimentation. And I’m not talking gazpacho and other cold soups, I’m referring to warm, comforting ones. Those that fill the kitchen with steam and make you want to run and crank up the air conditioning. There was the holy grail of soups I made last week, which was beautiful, followed by this chicken and couscous soup, which I’d like to baptize the ultimate soul soother.
If you think chicken soup is comforting, try it with couscous and you’ll find out how much more comforting it can be. Couscous is not traditionally used in soups in Morocco. It is my own creation to combine the two together. Not bad what being confused about the seasons can result in, huh? Things could be much worse.
Chicken and Couscous Soup Recipe
4 to 6 servings
1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite sized cubes
2 leeks, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 bay leaf
5 cups low sodium-chicken broth
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup whole grain couscous
Place the chicken with the leeks and olive oil in a pot. Sauté over medium-high heat,turning occasionally, 5 minutes.
Add the carrots, celery, bay leaf and chicken broth. Season with ground coriander, turmeric, cumin, salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and cook 25 to 30 minutes.
Remove the pot from heat. Discard the bay leaf. Add the couscous, cover with a lid and let stand 2 to 3 minutes before serving.
Serve steaming hot.
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Ilke — 05/28/2011 @ 12:40 am
I love the colors, tells me this is a comfort soup indeed!
I dont know what is up with kids and not wearing "season" appropriate clothes! I found my nephews two days ago in their snow jackets, bike helmets and gloves. It was 88 degrees here and they would not take it off! They "needed" them to fly to Mars! :)
Kunline — 05/28/2011 @ 2:32 am
It looks delicious!!!I love your blog!!! I was also craving soups and my family told me, it was too hot for soup. I made lentils soup anyway! I will try your Makrout recipe with cornmeal this week!! Thank you for sharing..Cute pics!!
Oh, My Darling — 05/28/2011 @ 5:38 pm
Yum, I'm such a fan of couscous!
theUngourmet — 05/29/2011 @ 7:36 am
I love soup anytime of year. I've never thought to use couscous in my soup. Great idea!
Your old photos are so fun! :)
yasmeen — 05/29/2011 @ 10:12 am
your mother's expression in that photo is gorgeous. so much said with so subtle a gaze.
i love the idea of adding cous cous to soup. will try this one very soon!
Barbara — 05/29/2011 @ 12:33 pm
Love the photos, Nisrine! You were a cutie, fashion sense notwithstanding. :)
Your soup is comfort food personified!
Nisrine — 05/29/2011 @ 12:43 pm
Barbara– Hey…, I layered my shirts long before it was fashionable…that's something :)
Velva — 05/29/2011 @ 12:44 pm
Chicken soup is food for the soul. Yours looks comforting and soul satisfying. Beautiful.
I love soup and love to eat all year round which often times means that I am out of season too.
Have a great weekend.
Velva
pierre — 05/29/2011 @ 12:48 pm
elle fait tres envie ta petite soupe !!Bonne journée pierre
thefooddoctor — 05/29/2011 @ 12:56 pm
Thank you for stopping by my blog so that I can discover your amazing blog..
love the pictures of little you :)
Amanda — 05/29/2011 @ 1:46 pm
Oh yum looks delicious!!!
Reeni — 05/30/2011 @ 12:36 am
People think I am nuts because I crave soup in the summer! I love your chicken soup with couscous – such a nice change from run of the mill chicken soups. Your pictures are so cute!
Nuts about food — 05/30/2011 @ 11:50 am
I could also probably eat this any season.
Magic of Spice — 06/01/2011 @ 3:18 pm
I love the flavors in your soup and I think Couscous is a wonderful idea :)
Love these photos, so cute!
Dana — 06/02/2011 @ 4:08 am
This looks like a very comforting, warming soup. Especially for those cold blustery days that you still end up wearing shorts for. I'm so bad at dressing for the weather, so I understand.
Elra's cooking and baking — 06/03/2011 @ 3:44 am
What a wonderful photos Nizrine! And the chicken soup with couscous sounds really comforting.