Moroccan meatball stew with couscous

6
Points®
Total Time
1 hr 3 min
Prep
22 min
Cook
41 min
Serves
6
Difficulty
Easy
Fragrant and full of flavor, this comforting stew is even better the next day—which makes it well suited for entertaining since you can prepare it ahead of time. The meatball mixture adds breadcrumbs to help keep the ground chicken moist and nuts for texture and a bit of crunch. To make shaping the meatballs easier, dip your hands into a bowl of water before forming each meatball. Try to keep the meatballs consistent in in size so that they cook evenly and finish all at the same time. The meatballs are paired with fluffy couscous to soak up all the rich flavors.

Ingredients

White bread

2 slice(s), firm

98% fat-free uncooked ground chicken breast

1 pound(s), skinless

Onion

¼ cup(s), chopped, grated

Pine nuts

2 Tbsp, coarsely chopped

Fresh parsley

2 Tbsp, fresh flat-leaf, chopped

Ground cinnamon

1 tsp

Ground ginger

½ tsp

Table salt

½ tsp

Olive oil

2 tsp

Onion

1 large, chopped

Garlic

2 clove(s), chopped

Plum tomato

3 medium, diced

Ground cumin

½ tsp

Reduced sodium chicken broth

3½ cup(s)

Prunes

12 piece(s), pitted, left whole

Carrots

2 medium, cut into 1-inch chunks

Honey

1 Tbsp

Red pepper flakes

¼ tsp

Cooked couscous

10 oz, plain variety

Sliced almonds

3 Tbsp

Instructions

  1. Place the bread in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form, about 10 seconds; transfer to a large bowl. Add the chicken, onion, pine nuts, 1 tablespoon of the parsley, the cinnamon, ginger, and salt; mix well. With wet hands, shape the mixture into 12 balls.
  2. Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a nonstick Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  3. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the Dutch oven; stir in the onion and garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cumin. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened, about 5 minutes. Return the meatballs to the Dutch oven, then add the broth, prunes, carrots, honey, and crushed red pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the flavors are blended and the meatballs are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped parsley.
  4. Divide the couscous among 6 bowls. Spoon the meatball stew over the couscous, then sprinkle with the almonds. Yields generous 3⁄4 cup couscous, 2 meatballs, 1⁄2 cup sauce, and 1⁄2 tablespoon almonds per serving.