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Ferakh Maamer

by Marie-Pierre Moine from Mediterranean Cookbook

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.

From the book

Marie-Pierre Moine

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

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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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