Main dish

Maple-Dijon Chicken With Bacon Couscous

If you don’t have 2 tablespoons of fat in the skillet after frying the bacon, supplement with vegetable oil.

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4 slices bacon, diced

4 (4- to 5-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed

1 shallot, peeled and minced

11/4 cups fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth

1 cup pearl (Israeli) couscous

1 tablespoon parsley, freshly chopped

2 teaspoons cider vinegar

In a small bowl, whisk the mustard, maple syrup, salt and pepper; set aside. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.

Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from skillet and return pan to medium-high heat until fat shimmers. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown and meat registers 160 degrees, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer to platter, brush with mustard mixture, and tent loosely with aluminum foil. (You might not use all of the mustard mixture depending on the size of the chicken breasts.)

Add shallot to now-empty skillet and cook over medium heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add broth and bring to simmer. Stir in couscous, cover, remove from heat, and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir cooked bacon, parsley and vinegar into couscous. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve couscous and chicken with any remaining Dijon sauce on the side. Makes 4 servings.

Source: Adapted from Cook’s Country magazine, January 2013.

Per serving: 490 calories (18 percent from fat), 10 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 46 g carbohydrates, 54 g protein, 818 mg sodium, 129 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber.