Chicken with Apricots, Olives and Couscous

This was an amazing meal that I would have never made on my own! This is why we are cooking through a cookbook! :) Jay and I absolutely loved it and will definitely make it again!

Ingredients for chicken:

8 chicken thighs (2 - 2 1/2 pounds) I might try chicken breasts next time instead of the thighs...just a thought/suggestion on my part!

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 medium onions, each cut into 6 wedges

4 cloves of garlic, smashed

3/4 teaspoon dried mint

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or to taste

8 ounces dried apricots (about 2 dozen)

3/4 cup small green olives

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat, add oil, and heat until shimmering. Cook chicken skin side down until golden and crispy, about 8 minutes. Turn chicken and brown for another 2 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Pour off 2 tablespoons of the pan drippings and reserve; leave remaining drippings in the skillet.

Add the onions, garlic, mint and red pepper flakes to the skillet and cook until the onions are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the apricots and olives. Arrange the chicken, skin side up, on top of the onion mixture and bake, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.

Ingredients for the couscous:

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds

3 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Pinch cayenne pepper

Freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups uncooked couscous

While the chicken bakes, make the couscous: In a small saucepan, toast the cumin and caraway seeds over medium heat, swirling the pan frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth, reserved drippings, the 1 teaspoon salt, and cayenne and black peppers to taste and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous, pull the saucepan off the heat, cover, and set aside until the liquid has been absorbed and couscous is plump, about 5 minutes.

When ready to serve, fluff the couscous with a fork and mound it on a warm serving platter. Arrange the chicken around the couscous.

I really thought this was a great meal! :) Enjoy!