It’s an adaptation of a recipe from The Silk Road Gourmet by Laura Kelley, a fascinating and detailed cookbook featuring recipes from Western and Southern Asia.
The book explores the cuisines of the Republic of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka and flows from country to country along the famed ancient trade route.
Each country’s recipes are organized by course, and the author has skillfully adapted them for easy preparation in Western kitchens. If you enjoy creative cooking, this book will provide you with a world of inspiration and be a great addition to your cookbook library.
Middle Eastern Spiced Chicken with Apricots
This unique chicken recipe uses a blend of fragrant spices, dried apricots, pistachios and lemon to make a sweet and spicy dish that’s delicious served over couscous or rice.
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1/2 cup pistachio nuts, shelled (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
For the spice blend:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Make the spice blend by combining the salt, sugar, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne and a few grinds of black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sauté until no longer pink on the outside, 2 minutes. Using a slotted spatula, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan along with the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, sprinkle with the spice blend and continue cooking until the garlic softens and the spices are fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
- Deglaze the pan with 2 or 3 tablespoons of the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits that may have accumulated on the bottom. Stir in the remaining broth, then add the apricots and pistachios.
- Return the chicken to the pan and simmer until it’s cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the butter, lemon zest, lemon juice and cayenne. Cook 1 minute more, taste and add more cayenne if desired.
- Serve over couscous or steamed rice and spoon the sauce over the top. You can also add a dollop of plain yogurt if desired.
Recipe Notes
If you are using raw pistachios, you might want to toast them a bit for extra flavor before adding them to the recipe. (Thanks to Susan for this tip!)
Recipe adapted from “The Silk Road Gourmet” by Laura Kelley © iUniverse 2009
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Middle Eastern Spiced Chicken with Apricots
Amount per Serving
Calories
307
% Daily Value*
Fat
22
g
34
%
Saturated Fat
12
g
75
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
6
g
Cholesterol
34
mg
11
%
Sodium
645
mg
28
%
Potassium
531
mg
15
%
Carbohydrates
21
g
7
%
Fiber
4
g
17
%
Sugar
13
g
14
%
Protein
10
g
20
%
Trans Fat
1
g
Vitamin A
801
IU
16
%
Vitamin C
6
mg
7
%
Calcium
51
mg
5
%
Iron
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Have you tried this recipe?Did you add your own special touch? We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a rating to share your thoughts with others.
Gene says
I like this recipe but needs 3x more liquid, especially with couscous.
Chloe says
I really like the spices, apricots, and lemon flavors in this recipe. I skipped the couscous and served it with toasted naan. It was great that way
Lynne Webb says
Hi Chloe,
The naan sounds like a great accompaniment to the flavors in this chicken dish. Thanks for sharing.
Susan M Zakar says
I thought it was delicious. Pretty fast to make, as well. I used boneless skinless chicken legs instead, but other than that followed the recipe as written Very fragrant. My only suggestion is that if you have raw pistachios, toast them before adding for the most flavor.
Susan M Zakar says
I thought it was delicious. Pretty fast to make, as well. I used boneless skinless chicken legs instead, but other than that followed the recipe as written Very fragrant. My only suggestion is that if you have raw pistachios, toast them before adding for the most flavor.
Lynne Webb says
Hi Susan,
I’m glad you liked the recipe. It has such a nice combination of spices. You are right about the pistachios too. I am adding that to the recipe notes. Thanks for the suggestion!