Zesty Lebanese lemon chicken & giant couscous

Zesty Lebanese lemon chicken & giant couscous

This clever recipe makes simple ingredients feel a bit special. Tender chicken and giant couscous simmer with sweet fennel, peppers and warming spices, while preserved lemon and fresh mint bring the kind of brightness that keeps everyone coming back for another forkful.

SWK: Source of fibre SWK: High protein Plants 6 one pot

Serving size

Cook time: 35 mins
Cuisine: North African
Food group: Poultry
Allergens: Sulphites, Wheat

Cooking Instructions

The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.

As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.

Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.

Before you start

  • 1x large saucepan with lid

Slice & sizzle

  • Peel and thinly slice the shallots. Trim the fennel bulbs and thinly slice, then deseed and thinly slice the peppers.
  • Spritz a large, lidded non-stick frying pan with cooking spray and put it over a medium heat. Fry the shallots, fennel, peppers and chicken for 6-8 mins.

Boost the flavour

  • Meanwhile, scoop out the middle of the preserved lemon and discard, then finely slice the rind.
  • Add the garlic & ginger paste and the spice mix to the pan. Cook for 1 min, then stir in the preserved lemon and giant couscous. Crumble in the stock cube, add the passata and pour in 300ml water (500ml for 4 portions).

Simmer time!

  • Put the lid on the pan and simmer for 14-16 mins, until the couscous is soft and the chicken is cooked through.

Add a final flourish

  • Finely chop half the mint leaves and stir them through the pan.
  • Serve the couscous with the remaining mint leaves scattered over.

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