Instant Pot Chicken with Apricots, Spiced Carrots and Lemon Pearl Couscous

Name: Instant Pot Chicken with Apricots, Spiced Carrots and Lemon Pearl Couscous
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusión mediterránea
Ingredients: 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 cup yellow onion; 4 cloves garlic; 2 cups carrots; 3.5 oz dried apricots; 1 cup pearl couscous; 2 cups chicken broth; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tsp lemon zest; 1.5 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/4 cup fresh parsley; 1/4 cup sliced almonds

An original Instant Pot dish featuring tender chicken thighs cooked in a gentle sauce of onion, garlic, cinnamon, and cumin, paired with carrots and dried apricots. It is finished with lemony pearl couscous and parsley for an aromatic, comforting, and balanced result.

20 minPrep

25 minCook

45 minTotal

4Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en trozos large)
15 ml olive oil
150 g yellow onion (chopped diced small)
12 g garlic (chopped)
250 g carrots (en medias lunas gruesas)
100 g dried apricots (cut por the mitad)
180 g pearl couscous (crudo)
480 ml chicken broth (divided)
30 g tomato paste
30 ml lemon juice
4 g lemon zest
4 g ground cumin
1 g ground cinnamon
2 g sweet paprika
6 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
15 g fresh parsley (chopped)
25 g sliced almonds (lightly tostadas for servir)

Nutrition facts

per serving

528 kcal

Calories

35 g

Protein

38 g

Carbs

24 g

Fat

5 g

Fiber

33 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

GlutenTree Nuts

Instructions

1
1. In a bowl, combine the chicken with the cumin, cinnamon, sweet paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the black pepper until all pieces are well coated.
2
2. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Once the insert is hot, add the olive oil and brown the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring once. Remove the chicken and set aside.
3
3. Add the onion and carrots to the pot. Sauté for 3 minutes until the onion starts to soften. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste, and cook for 30 seconds, stirring so it does not stick.
4
4. Pour in 360 ml (1 1/2 cups) of the chicken broth and scrape the bottom well with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits. Add the dried apricots, the remaining salt, and return the chicken to the pot.
5
5. Lock the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. High-pressure cooking in the Instant Pot reaches about 239°F (115°C).
6
6. When the cycle ends, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully perform a quick release. Open the lid when the valve has fully dropped.
7
7. Add the pearl couscous and the remaining 120 ml (1/2 cup) chicken broth. Stir well so the couscous is distributed in the liquid. Lock the lid again and cook on high pressure for 5 more minutes, again at about 239°F (115°C).
8
8. When the second cycle ends, perform an immediate quick release. Open the lid and stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and half of the fresh parsley. Let it rest for 2 minutes so the sauce can settle.
9
9. Serve hot, finishing each portion with the remaining parsley and the toasted sliced almonds on top.

Chef tips

Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes to deepen their flavor. If you want a looser, juicier texture, add an extra 30 to 60 ml of broth at the end before resting.

Substitutions

You can substitute chicken breast pieces for the thighs, reducing the first pressure-cook time to 8 minutes. The almonds can be replaced with pistachios if other tree nuts are not a concern. Parsley can be swapped for cilantro for a fresher profile.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
View on Amazon
Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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Illustrative image
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
Chopping, slicing and cutting strips
- The knife I use most when cooking
- Chops, slices and cuts into strips
- Keep it sharp and hand-dry it
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