Harissa Spiced Chicken with Leeks and Tomatoes

Harissa paste is native to Tunisia, a country in the Middle East. This paste combines red pepper with garlic, saffron, coriander, and various other chilies and spices to create a mellow heat that is extremely unique.

Middle Eastern cooking is not something I dabble in often, but I LOVE the flavors that these cultures have to offer. I definitely want to keep trying more things out.

Try this dish drizzled with Greek yogurt! It adds a wonderful contrast to the heat of the Harissa paste. I cut my yogurt with a little lemon juice to thin it out.

Harissa Spiced Chicken with Leeks and Tomatoes

Sarah Baumeister

Harissa Spiced Chicken with Leeks and Tomatoes is a light chicken dinner made flavorful from harissa paste and leeks and paired with arugula and tomatoes.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course chicken, Main Course

Cuisine Middle Eastern

Servings 4 people

Calories 286 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 tbsp. olive oil divided
• ▢ 2 chicken breasts butterflied
• ▢ 2 leeks diced
• ▢ 4 garlic cloves minced
• ▢ 3 tbsp. Harissa paste
• ▢ ¼ cup chicken stock
• ▢ ½ tsp. salt
• ▢ arugula to serve

Tomato Garnish

• ▢ 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• ▢ 1 tbsp. olive oil
• ▢ ½ lemon juiced
• ▢ ½ tsp. dried oregano
• ▢ salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• In a cast iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When hot, add chicken breasts and brown each side (about 4 minutes per side). Remove chicken breasts to a plate. 
• Add in an additional tablespoon of olive oil along with chopped leeks, garlic, and salt. Saute for 7-8 minutes, until the leeks have started to wilt down. Add in harissa paste, and stir to coat leeks. 
• Nestle the chicken back in among the leeks and pour chicken stock on top. Simmer 10 minutes, or until chicken is just cooked through.
• Quarter tomatoes, and mix with olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, and salt and pepper. 
• Slice chicken and serve on a bed of couscous, with the tomato relish, and fresh arugula. 

Notes

You can choose to butterfly the chicken breasts, or cut them all the way through. Either way, brown as much of the chicken as possible for maximum flavor. 

Nutrition

Calories: 286kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 26gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 554mgPotassium: 675mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1047IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!