Middle Eastern Spiced Chicken with Apricots

Ingredients 

• 1-1/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1/2 cup pistachio nuts, shelled (see notes)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

For the spice blend:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions 

1. Make the spice blend by combining the salt, sugar, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, and a few grinds of black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sauté until no longer pink on the outside, 2 minutes. Using a slotted spatula, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
3. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan along with the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, sprinkle with the spice blend, and continue cooking until the garlic softens and the spices are fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
4. Deglaze the pan with 2 or 3 tablespoons of the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits that may have accumulated on the bottom. Stir in the remaining broth, then add the apricots and pistachios.
5. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer until it’s cooked through 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and cayenne. Cook 1 minute more, taste, and add more cayenne if desired.
6. Serve over couscous or steamed rice and spoon the sauce over the top. You can also add a dollop of plain yogurt if desired.