Occasionally, I like to try and come up with my own recipes. Most of the time these ideas come to be while I’m driving, while I’m laying in the bed or doing something else really random. For this reason, I usually keep post-its or a small notebook on my nightstand and in my purse. Otherwise, I would never remember anything. Sure, couscous stuffed inside of chicken isn’t necessarily anything new here; I’m not reinventing the wheel but simply adding my take on an easy and pretty tasty meal. Couscous isn’t a usual part of my day-to-day diet but I do enjoy it and I can’t emphasize enough how easy couscous is to cook.
This was one of those ideas that came to be while laying in the bed. It’s like a little light bulb goes off sometimes. Sometimes, the ideas really aren’t that great once I wake up the next morning and look at what I’ve scribbled down. This was not one of those crazy ideas – this was pretty tasty (and filling)! I will add a disclaimer to this dish: most of my random recipe ideas are not very concise. They’re easy enough that you won’t mess the dish up but I don’t have any specific measurements but I’m hear to answer any questions should you decide to make it.
What you’ll need:
– chicken breasts
– salt & pepper
– dry seasonings of your choice (like garlic salt, Italian seasonings, etc,)
– couscous, cooked according to the box
– smoked mozzarella, cut into chunks
– olive oil
– butter
Other needs:
– cooking twine
Cut a slit/pocket in the chicken breasts. Make sure to not cut through the other side of the breast otherwise, you won’t be able to stuff the chicken with the couscous.
This is optional, but I pounded the chicken a bit just to thin it out a little more.
Season with salt and pepper and any other seasonings of your choice. Fill the chicken with cooked couscous (I cooked my couscous in chicken broth) and one or two pieces of cheese.
Fold over and close the chicken with cooking twine. I used to pieces of twine per each chicken breast. This will help hold the couscous mixture in the chicken while you’re browning it.
In a heated skillet, add a little olive oil and butter. Yes, butter. Don’t ask why, it’s delicious.
Cook chicken on both sides until it is a beautiful brown color. Finish in the oven, if desired. Finishing it in the oven will result in a nice evenly cooked piece of chicken.
Be sure to remove the cooking twine before you indulge.
The smoked mozzarella adds a little extra element of flavor that just takes it to a whole other level. When it starts to ooze out of the side of the chicken breast, that’s when you know it’s going to be good.
Because the chicken is so full of flavor and has both couscous and cheese, you can serve this dish with something a little light like sauteed spinach or sauteed green beans.
