Ingredients
2 tbsp. Cooking oil
8 chicken drumsticks
3 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. fresh-ground black pepper
1 onion
1 turnip
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 tsp. paprika
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
tsp. cayenne
6 c. water
3 carrots
1 c. drained and rinsed canned chickpeas (one 15-ounce can)
1/2 c. packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 c. couscous
Preparation
Step 1In a large deep frying pan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over moderately high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the black pepper. Put the chicken in the pan and brown well, about 8 minutes in all. Remove. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat. Reduce the heat to moderately low.Step 2Add the onion and turnip and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, cumin, cayenne, and 2 1/4 teaspoons of the salt. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in 4 cups of the water and the carrots. Add the chicken and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring the mixture two or three times, until the chicken and vegetables are almost done, about 20 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and the parsley and simmer until the chicken and vegetables are done, about 5 minutes longer.Step 3Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 2 cups water to a boil. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and the couscous. Cover. Remove the pot from the heat and let the couscous stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Serve the stew with its broth over the couscous.Step 4Wine Recommendation: Often with a complex dish it’s best to serve a simple wine that won’t compete with the food’s flavors. Here, an exuberantly fruity Beaujolais-Villages will effectively highlight the stew.
