Chicken Bowl with Paprika Almond Dip
Mediterranean-inspired grain bowl featuring roasted chicken breast, fluffy couscous, and crisp vegetables topped with a creamy paprika-almond dip. Feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and fresh spinach create a balanced, colorful meal with warm spices and bright citrus notes.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ oz sliced almonds, raw
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 9 oz canned roasted peppers, drainedjarred roasted peppers1:1vegetarian
same flavor profile
- 1 ¼ tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ¼ tbsp lemon juice, fresh
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 breast chicken, boneless skinless
- 5 ½ oz couscousquinoa1:1grain swapgluten-free
similar cooking time and texture
- 1 cube vegetable stock
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 ¼ cups feta cheese
- 3 ½ oz black olives, pitted
- 9 oz cherry tomatoes
- 3 ½ oz fresh spinach, leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- salt, to taste(optional)
- black pepper, to taste(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Blend almonds, garlic, and canned peppers until combined. Add lemon juice, olive oil, pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly until uniform.
- 2
Remove membranes from chicken breast, season with Italian herbs, pepper, and salt. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes at 350°F. Slice cooked chicken into smaller pieces.
- 3
Place couscous in a bowl. Boil water with vegetable stock cube, stirring until dissolved. Pour hot water over couscous and set aside to absorb.
- 4
Crumble feta into small pieces, halve cherry tomatoes, and drain olives.
- 5
Divide couscous evenly among 4 bowls. Layer spinach, chicken pieces, cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta. Top with paprika-almond dip.
- 6
Serve immediately.
Tips
Prepare dip and vegetables ahead of time, refrigerate separately, then assemble bowls just before serving for optimal texture.
Use high-quality feta and olives for better flavor balance.
Good to Know
Couscous, vegetables, and dip keep separately in airtight containers for 3 days. Chicken lasts 2 days refrigerated. Assemble bowls to order.
Prepare dip, cook couscous, roast chicken, and chop vegetables up to 1 day ahead. Keep components separate until assembly.
Serve at room temperature or warm. Drizzle extra olive oil over dip before serving if desired.
Common Mistakes
Do not overblend the dip or it will become too thin; stop when reaching spreadable consistency.
Do not skip removing chicken membranes to avoid tough texture when biting.
Do not skip draining olives or the bowl will become watery.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Gluten-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
same flavor profile