Maftoul with chicken, chickpeas and cinnamon
Big pearls of couscous with a fragrant chicken and chickpea stew, the warm, cosy way Palestinian families eat it.
- Time1 hr
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.91 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium high heat. Brown the chicken for 5 minutes, then lift out.
5 min - 2
Cook the onions in the same pan for 8 minutes, until soft and golden. Add the garlic, carrots and all the spices and stir for 1 minute.
8 min - 3
Return the chicken to the pan with the chickpeas, water and salt. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 25 minutes, until the chicken is tender and the sauce is slightly thickened.
25 min - 4
Meanwhile, boil the pearl couscous in a large pan of salted water for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender but still with a slight bite. Drain well.
10 min - 5
Stir the lemon juice into the stew and taste for salt.
- 6
Pile the couscous onto a big plate or bowls, ladle the stew over, and scatter with parsley.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.