Ferakh Maamer
This festive dish is inspired by Moroccan Ferakh Maamer. Made with a large chicken, pigeon or poussins, it is flavoured with aromatic spices, lemon and mint.
Introduction
This festive dish is packed with powerful aromas and infuses bland poussins with flavour. You can also use pigeons or a large chicken instead
Ingredients
| 400g (14oz) | ready-to-cook couscous |
| salt and freshly ground black pepper | |
| 4 | ready-to-cook poussins |
| 400ml (14fl oz) | hot light chicken stock |
| pinch of saffron strands | |
| 1 tbsp | snipped mint leaves |
| 1 tbsp | snipped coriander leaves |
| 2 tsp | lemon juice |
| For the stuffing: | |
| 4 tbsp | olive oil |
| 1½ tbsp | runny honey |
| 3 tbsp | pine nuts |
| 3 tbsp | raisins |
| 2 | spring onions, white (and green) parts only, finely chopped |
| 1-2 | garlic cloves, crushed |
| ½–1 scant tsp | harissa paste |
| ½ tsp | ground cinnamon |
| 1 tsp | ground cumin |
| ½ tsp | ground ginger |
| 1 tsp | dried mint |
| 1 tsp | dried coriander |
Method
Cook the couscous according to the packet instructions. For the stuffing, mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Add half the cooked couscous, season, and toss well.
Lightly salt the cavity of each poussin, then spoon in the stuffing. Stir the unused stuffing into the remaining couscous.
In a deep, ovenproof sauté pan, heat the stock over a medium heat and add thesaffron. Simmer, add the poussins, cover, reduce the heat, and cook for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 220ºC (425ºF/Gas 7). Remove the lid and transfer the pan to the oven. Bake for 15–20 minutes. Remove most of the liquid. Cover and return to the turned off oven for 10 minutes.
Reheat the couscous in a pan and add 2–3 tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Season and stir in half the fresh herbs. Bring the remaining cooking liquid to the boil in a pan. Stir in the lemon juice. Season. Place the poussins on a platter and surround with the couscous. Drizzle over the cooking liquid, scatter over the remaining herbs, and serve.
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