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This recipe calls on a North African staple to deliver incredible flavor. Harissa paste, made from red chiles, forms a deliciously spicy, smoky sauce for chicken and carrots, combined with dates for a bit of molasses-sweet contrast. Our simple spin on a rice salad owes its layer of crispy, creamy texture to roasted chickpeas. (Be careful taking your chickpeas out of the oven, as the high heat may cause a few to pop!)

Ethan Mick

with Harissa, Dates & Chickpeas

Spicy Chicken & Carrots

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs

White Basmati Rice

Chickpeas

Carrots

Parsley

Red Harissa Paste

Deglet Noor Dates

Almonds

Sherry Vinegar

Labneh Cheese

Ingredients

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with a layer of paper towels. Drain and rinse the **chickpeas**; spread onto the prepared sheet pan. Using a second layer of paper towels, gently pat or roll the chickpeas to thoroughly dry; discard the paper towels and any loose chickpea skins. Drizzle the dried chickpeas with olive oil; toss to coat. Arrange in a single, even layer. Roast, stirring halfway through, 24 to 26 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oven and [season with salt and pepper to taste.](#)

Roast the chickpeas:

While the chickpeas roast, in a small pot, combine the **rice**, **a big pinch of salt** and **½ cup of water**;  heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook 14 to 16 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove from heat and fluff the cooked rice with a fork.

Cook the rice:

While the rice cooks, wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel the carrots; halve lengthwise, then cut into 2-inch-long pieces on an angle. Pit and roughly chop the dates. Roughly chop the almonds. Pick the parsley leaves off the stems; discard the stems and roughly chop the leaves. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and chop into bite-sized pieces.

Prepare the ingredients:

While the chickpeas continue to roast, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the **chicken** and **carrots**; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the **dates**, **½ cup of water** and **as much of the harissa paste as you’d like**, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 4 minutes, or until the liquid has thickened and the chicken is cooked through. Turn off the heat. Stir in the **almonds**  and **all but a pinch of the parsley**; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook the chicken & carrots:

While the chicken and carrots cook, in a bowl, combine the **labneh** and **half the vinegar**; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Season the labneh:

Add the **roasted chickpeas** and **remaining vinegar** to the pot of **cooked rice**. Stir to thoroughly combine; season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the finished rice and **cooked chicken and carrots** between 2 dishes. Top with the **seasoned labneh**. Garnish with the **remaining parsley**. Enjoy!