- 150g wholewheat couscous
- 2 tsp China 5 spice
- 1 cucumber
- 2 spring onions
- 1 lettuce
- 300g plums
- 1 lime
- 250g chicken breast mini fillets
- 2 tbsp honey
- A handful of basil, leaves only
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 200ml boiling water
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- A couple of bowls
- Frying pan with lid
- 1.
Tip the couscous into a heatproof bowl. Add a pinch of China 5 spice and some salt. Mix together. Pour over just enough water to cover the grains by 1 cm. Cover with cling film or a plate and leave to steam cook.
- 2.
Halve the cucumber lengthways and scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon. Discard the seeds. Chop the cucumber into small cubes. Finely slice the spring onions. Tear the lettuce.
- 3.
Halve the plums and scoop out the stone. Roughly chop them. Zest and juice the lime.
- 4.
Heat a frying pan. When hot, drizzle in 1 tbsp olive oil. Add the chicken breast fillets and cook for 8 mins till golden and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set on a plate.
- 5.
Keep the pan on the heat. Add the plums and cook for 2 mins. Pour in 200ml boiling water and bring to a bubble. Reduce the heat and leave to simmer for 5 mins, till the plums are soft.
- 6.
Pour in 2 tbsp honey and the lime juice. Sprinkle in 1 tsp China 5 spice. Stir. Add the chicken fillets with any resting juices back to the pan. Cover with the lid and cook for 5 mins.
- 7.
Lay the torn lettuce on a platter. Fold half the spring onions and all the cucumber into the steamed couscous. Add the lime zest and 1 tbsp olive oil and toss to combine.
- 8.
Scatter the couscous salad over the lettuce. Spoon over the chicken and the plum sauce. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and the remaining spring onions.