Roasted Chicken and Roasted Beets with Couscous and yogurt sauce

My last few posts have featured fresh garden produce from the garden where I volunteer at once a week.  This was the very first time we grew beets, I’ve been so pleased with the results, that we will surely be adding it to next year’s list.  Roasting beets is a great way to eat these tender and beautiful red jewels that are packed with nutrients.  Fresh beets create a taste and texture that canned beets cannot replicate, plus they come with the green tops that can be added to many other dishes.

PicMonkey Collage

Yes, you do get beautiful pink fingers at the end of the peeling process 🙂

I prepared this chicken dish below for Sunday’s dinner; I wanted to feature the beets, but I did not end up making the recipe I had intended to as a certain someone was impatient during the film shoot :).  I will however, add the beets recipe at the end.  I’ve made it before, it is definitely a great addition to any meal.

Roasted Chicken and Roasted Beets with Couscous and yogurt sauce

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 pounds chicken drumsticks and thighs (8 total)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 3 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2 pounds beets, peeled and cut into wedges
  • 1 cup wholewheat couscous
  • 3/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro

Method

  1. Heat oven to 425 degrees.  On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the chicken with the cumin, smoked paprika, thyme, sage and poultry seasoning.  Add two tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper.  On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss the beets with 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.  Roast, tossing the beets and chicken once, until the beets are tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 40 minutes.
  2. While the chicken and beets are cooking in the oven, cook the couscous according to package directions.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, lime juice and cilantro.  I used my home-made yogurt that I had prepared the day before.  Serve this delicious chicken with the couscous, beets, yogurt sauce and lime wedges.

Recipe for Honey Ginger Balsamic Glazed Beets

  • 2 pound medium-sized beets, trimmed and scrubbed
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons peeled and fresh chopped ginger
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
  • basil leaves for garnish

Heat the butter over medium heat in a large pan and add the ginger.  Cook the ginger for a minute or two, until fragrant.  Add the beets and the balsamic and stir.  When the beets are hot and glazed, test for sweetness.  Add honey if needed and cook a little longer to glaze.  Remove from heat and serve.

PicMonkey CollageA satisfying and healthy meal that will surely please everyone’s palate.

Joining in the party at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #132  Thanks to our lovely co-hosts Sandhya @ Indfused and Nancy @ Feasting With Friends

 

 

39 comments

  1. Loretta, What a fabulous dinner. I agree that canned beets pale in comparison to the fresh ones. And with that yummy glaze! I am sure it was lip smacking delicious. Your photos , as always are superb. Loved the one with pink fingers too 🙂
    The chicken looks scrumptious and moist!Love all the flavors in that too. Drooling over that yummy meal !

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    1. So sweet Sandhya, thank you. It was definitely a satisfying meal, and the main stars of the recipe were supposed to be the beets, but a certain someone was impatient, so in the picture it was just roasted. Will definitely be repeating this satisfying meal again. Re the photos, it’s amazing what the edit button will do 🙂 I’m no photographer, and just own a point and shoot, my pictures are rubbish when I compare them to other bloggers, but I do try 🙂 Thanks for your input as always Sandhya.

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      1. Loretta, what camera and edit tools do you use? The pictures are really nice and crystal clear. And of course the credit goes to your styling too. Love it!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. This is my kind of Sunday dinner. The chicken is flavored with many of my favorite spices, I love cumin especially. It looks cooked to perfection! It’s funny, I thought I didn’t like beets…come to find out I don’t like canned beets. One taste of garden fresh, roasted beets quickly changed my mind. Delicious share, Loretta…thank you!

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    1. Thanks Nancy, indeed it was, and I’ll surely be repeating this again. There are a few people I know who do not like beets, I’m sure glad you changed your mind. I had never grown beets before, so these were a special treat. I might even try a chocolate beet cake next, what’s not to love about chocolate eh? 🙂

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    1. Thanks Sonal…. hmmm didn’t realize your girl ate meat? Gosh, you must have to cook separate meals at times? I hope the girls will love it as much as we did. You can add additional Indian spices besides the cumin. Have you ever tried the Goan chicken cafreal? It is so lip smacking delicious. It’s made with a green masala.

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    1. Thanks Julie, Yes, some people have an aversion to beets I know. I simply love them, and growing them in the garden has been the highlight for me this year. I just checked on a chocolate beet cake, and that might just be the way I end up eating the rest of the beets. 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much Judi. Awww, I’ll bet Gene would have loved the fresh ones….I seem to be in love with them this year as the garden has been producing like there is no tomorrow. I might even try a chocolate beet cake next 🙂

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    1. The best part? It’s not in my own garden as I don’t have room anymore….but just up the road where I volunteer and help myself to all the fab produce. Wondering what I might do with the white eggplant, I’ll bet you would have come up with something quite extraordinary! Thanks Elaine 🙂

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    1. Oh, very interesting Fae regarding the beets and the fact that they are eaten as a snack in Iran. I can see why. I too love to munch on them, what’s not to love? The texture, the taste, the color, all good! 🙂

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  13. I love beetroots! hey are such a grateful vegetable to grow and tastes delicious. I love the addition of balsamic vinegar, I have to try that next time! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Ha ha Petra, when I read your first sentence, I had to laugh a bit. My girls were home for the weekend from NYC….and every time I said “beetroots”, they said, “you know Mom, in America they are called beets”. I kindly reminded them that the Americans shortened the word beetroots 🙂 Thanks for stopping by 🙂

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      1. Hi Loretta
        ha ha I did the long word for beets and lost the t in they!
        I have never thought that there is a difference between English and American English! I learnt something new! 🙂

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  15. That is such a gorgeous meal, Loretta! It looks like it came from a 5 star restaurant. I love roasted beets, and would like them even more the way you prepared them with the ingredients you added to them. The chicken looks perfect as well. Definitely pinning this!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Aww, you’re so sweet Shari, thanks so much. I’ve got an obsession with beets now, and in fact today’s post was swiss chard and the tops of the beets (muffins). How do you prepare yours?

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