Giant Couscous is the big brother of regular Couscous. Just like my older brothers (I have two) it’s bolder in shape and size and can take the heat (giant couscous is normally toasted in an open flame oven, which allows it to keep its shape). This also makes it pretty stubborn…we’re talking about my brother’s here, but for the couscous it’s good that it remains al dente in texture after cooking.
These pearl-like grains are a great alternative to regular couscous, or pasta, or in this case rice as jollof rice is a main stable in many Nigerian and Ghanaian dishes. I absolutely love jollof. I used to live with a Nigerian lady for 2 years and she cooked this practically every week with so much ease. I love the peppery perfumed smell and the shocking yellow/red colour of the rice created by a combination of peppers and tomatoes.
The chicken was an easy accompaniment to this dish, once the chicken is in the oven the cous cous takes about 8-10 minutes to prepare once you’ve created the tomato stew. The longer you leave the chicken to marinate, the sweeter the taste. Enjoy!
Jollof Cous Cous w/ Honey Glazed Baked Chicken
For the Chicken
4 chicken thighs (or legs, your choice)
1/2 white onion - grated
2 garlic crushed
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 tbsp Chinese Five Spice Paste (or powder with 1 tbsp oil)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 bay leave, crushed
2 tbsp soya sauce
3 tbsp honey
4 tbsp oil (frying)
For the Jollof Cous Cous
2 cups giant cous cous
1 can plum tomatoes
1/2 scotch bonnet pepper
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 garlic crushed
1 chicken/ vegetable stock cube
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 sweet red pepper
2 tbsp palm oil (or vegetable oil)
salt/ pepper (to taste)
2 bay leaves
1/2 white onion - grated
Night before /4 hours before
1. Clean the Chicken and marinate in all the ingredients listed under chicken (except the honey and lime). Marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Day of cooking
2. When ready to cook, take the honey and lime, mix together and set aside.
3. Take a baking tray and drizzle with oil. Place in a heated oven (Gas Mark 6) for 5 minutes or till the pan gets hot.
4. Take the chicken and clean off any excess marinade. Remove the baking tray from oven and place on top of kitchen stove. Place the individual chicken pieces in the pan, it should sizzle as you do so. Then baste the chicken with the honey and lime glaze before returning the pan to the oven.
Continue to baste the chicken throughout its cooking with the honey and lime. This should take up to 25-30 minutes.
Making the ‘Stew’ for the Cous Cous
1. Blend the tomato, red pepper, scotch bonnet until smooth.
2. In a deep pot fry the onion and garlic in oil for 5 minutes or until soft.
3. Then add the blended tomatoes to the pot and allow it to fry for 8-10 minutes, to allow most of the water to evaporate from the sauce.
4. Then add the tomato paste and bay leaves to the sauce and cook for a further 2 minutes.
5. Add the chicken stock dissolved in boiling water and allow it to simmer for a further 2-3 minutes. Then add the curry powder, salt and thyme. season to taste.
6. You should have at the end of the process, a thick tomato sauce. At this point you want to turn the fire very low and add the couscous, stirring it in thoroughly with a fork until fully drenched in the sauce.
You may wish to add some water at this point, if you do, add a quarter of a cup at a time: cover the pot tightly with a lid and check after 3 minutes. Stir the pot, and add a little water if needed, otherwise cover the pot again and allow the couscous time to swell and drink up the sauce.
7. Giant couscous should take no more than 10 minutes to cook fully. At the end, take a knob of butter or drizzle of olive oil through the couscous. Serve with the chicken.
Love the lovely glaze Loretta ☺
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Thank you so much!
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Nice!! However, a Naija would have add more pepper!! Lol! Good recipe!
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Thank you Mariposaoro LOL!! I made some jollof rice also and made sure I added a bit more pepper 😉 I take it you like your rice hot!
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Yep!! I sure do! But above all, just tasty.. Naija people love pepper but like to add thyme and even a pinch of curry powder.. Have you cooked anything else Nigerian? If not take a look at allnigerian recipes.com.. I think.. Type into Google..
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No this is the first nigerian recipe I have made. But I do love Nigerian food…Do you have a recipe for jollof? or anything else?
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Ah, Ranette, I forgot to say.. Look at the blog, allnigerianrecipes.com.. It is written by an Igbo Nigerian Lady living in the States, showing people the soups, stews, and snacks of Nigeria! I have cooked and recommend, Akara,Edikaikong,and Okro Soup.. I also tried my best to pound my own yam.. It went well, but only the natives know the authentic texture etc.. Lol!
Also try Egusi Soup.. Delicious! But watch the salt content(egusi absorbs salt and if not careful, you may add too much.. Bitterleaf is a good soup, but boil the leaves until most of the bitterness has gone. Hope that helped..
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Thank you! I’ll take I look, I find it so hard to find authentic nigerian recipes that take you through recipes step by step!
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This site is GOOD!! She explains everything well, and alternatives to some traditional ingredients.
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Thanks for following my blog!
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I thought I already had…you’re welcome!
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According to wordpress, you didnt until now.. Hee hee.. How are you?
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I’m good you know, just updating the website with new recipes and a new look!
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Cool!
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Hey.. I read you’re Trini.. Where are your Trini recipes?
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Lool They are all over the blog! Roti, Pelau rice, Tamarind Sauce, Brown Stew Chicken…I am also Guyanese so I have a good share of guyanese recipes too! 😉
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Ok… Guyanese too.. I don’t suppose you have souse recipe as well.. Plus more authentic (well as authentic as it gets)Afro Guyanese and Indian food.. I will keep having a look!
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Also if you have time have a look at redrebelremarks.wordpress.com.. Its a friend of mines site which is a poetry, discussions and stories.. The site is fairly new but have a look at what’s there and feel free to comment!
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The bara and channa recipe is a classic trini dish!
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