Lunch: Turmeric and Cumin Chicken with Chiles, Cinnamon Oranges and Olive-Chickpea Couscous

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Turmeric and Cumin Chicken with Chiles, Cinnamon Oranges and Olive-Chickpea Couscous

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

1 whole chicken, cut up (remove the skin from the legs and breasts, and reserve the wings)
Kosher salt
1 lime
2 oranges
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Sea salt
3 tablespoons EVOO
1 rounded tablespoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds (half a palmful)
4 small fresh bay leaves
Two 3-inch cinnamon sticks
2 serrano or jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise
1 cup cracked green olives or olive mix
2 tablespoons butter
One 14-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Handful of fresh cilantro or parsley leaves, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups couscous

Instructions

Put the chicken wings in a small pot. Cover with water and sprinkle with salt. Simmer gently for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining chicken pieces with the juice of the lime, the juice of 1 orange and half the garlic. Sprinkle liberally with sea salt and toss to coat. Cover and marinate at room temperature for at least 45 minutes and up to 1 hour.
Heat the EVOO in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turmeric and cumin seeds and stir for a minute to toast the spices. Add the bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and chile peppers, and cook for a minute or 2 more. Add the chicken and turn to coat it with the spiced oil, then cook until the chicken is lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Slice the remaining orange and add it to the pan along with the olives. Cook until heated through. Remove the chicken wings from the poaching liquid, and add 1 cup of the liquid to the pan. Partially cover and simmer for 20 more minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks. (If you aren't serving the chicken immediately, cool and then store it in the refrigerator. Store any leftover poaching liquid separately. Reheat the chicken over medium heat and prepare the couscous before serving.)
Combine 1 1/2 cups reserved poaching liquid, the butter, chickpeas and cilantro in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, and then stir in the couscous. Turn off the heat, cover the pan and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Serve the couscous with the chicken.

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