Golden Chicken with Harissa Spiced Lentils
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Total: 40 mins
Braising mini fillets of organic chicken breast keeps them succulent, and lets them soak up all the flavours they’re simmered with – in this case a mix of tomatoes, sweet onions, nutty lentils and baby leaf spinach, spiked with a dash of harissa heat.
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432 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 250g chicken breast mini fillets
  • 1 onion
  • 2 vine tomatoes
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 400g tin of green lentils
  • ½-1 tsp harissa paste
  • 100g baby leaf spinach
  • A handful of mint, leaves only
  • 75g wholewheat couscous
From your kitchen
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 4 tbsp cold water
  • 400ml boiling water
You'll need
  • Large pan with lid
  • Measuring jug
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Pour 2 tsp olive oil into a large pan and warm over a medium-high for 2 mins. Add the chicken mini fillets and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Fry for 3-4 mins on each side, till golden brown.

  • 2.

    While the chicken cooks, peel and finely chop the onion. Scoop the chicken out of the pan and onto a plate. Reduce the heat under the pan to medium and slide in the onion with 4 tbsp cold water. Fry for 5-6 mins, stirring often, till slightly softened.

  • 3.

    While the onion fries, dice the tomatoes. Peel the garlic and crush or finely grate it. Drain and rinse the lentils with cold water. Fill and boil your kettle.

  • 4.

    Slide the garlic into the pan and add ½-1 tsp harissa paste (it’s hot, so use as much or little as you prefer). Cook and stir for 1 min.

  • 5.

    Add the tomatoes to the pan and fry for 5 mins, stirring often, till they start to break down. Stir in the lentils and chicken and pour in 250ml boiling water. Bring to a simmer, pop on a lid and cook for 15 mins, stirring every now and then.

  • 6.

    While the veg simmer, tip the couscous into a heatproof bowl. Pour over 150ml boiling water from the kettle and swirl with a fork. Cover the bowl with a plate and set aside for 10 mins to soak up the water and become tender.

  • 7.

    Pick the mint leaves off their sprigs and finely slice them.

  • 8.

    Stir the baby leaf spinach into the lentils just wilt it. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed. Fluff the couscous with a fork and divide it between 2 warm plates. Top with the chicken and lentils, garnish with mint leaves and serve.

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