Spiced Couscous Recipes

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a non stick pan and cook the chopped onion and garlic in it till the onion is soft and translucent.
• Stir in the cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, coriander, cayenne and paprika.
• Continue stirring over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then add vegetable broth, tomato puree and currants.
• Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes.
• Remove the sauce from heat and stir in fresh lemon (or lime) juice to your taste.
• If not using immediately and planning to reheat before serving, wait to add citrus juice at the last minute.
• To cook the couscous, heat the broth, water, butter and salt together in a medium skillet till the liquid boils.
• Reduce to a simmer, add the couscous, cover the skillet tightly and leave on the lowest heat for 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat an leave it covered for another couple of minutes before fluffing with a fork.
• (If using instant couscous, check package directions - you may not need to keep it on heat after boiling, but just cover and wait till liquid is absorbed - just see if liquid amounts match what is mentioned on the package).

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups water, half of the grated carrots, 2 tablespoons olive oil, the dried apricots, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the couscous; cover and remove from the heat. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, mix the yogurt, half of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon paprika and a large pinch of salt in a small bowl; set aside.
• Combine the ground beef, scallions, cumin, cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining grated carrot and 1 teaspoon paprika in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until just combined. Form into four 3/4-inch-thick oval patties.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium rare. Fluff the couscous with a fork and stir in the remaining cilantro. Serve the patties with the couscous and yogurt sauce.

Steps:

• Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the ginger, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the carrots and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain the carrots, reserving the cooking liquid.
• Put the couscous and chicken in a medium bowl; pour 1 cup of the hot cooking liquid on top. Stir, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds, raisins, scallions and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until the nuts are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cilantro.
• Divide the couscous and chicken among bowls. Top with the carrots and more of the cooking liquid. Sprinkle with the almond mixture and more cilantro. Top with yogurt and/or harissa.
• Per serving: Calories 441; Fat 20 g (Saturated 7 g); Cholesterol 91 mg; Sodium 853 mg; Carbohydrate 42 g; Fiber 8 g; Protein 28 g

Steps:

• Firstly, put the kettle on then cut broccoli into florets and thickly slice stalk. Pour boiling water into a steamer, steam broccoli for 6 mins, add the peas and steam for 2 mins more.
• Meanwhile, mix the couscous with the spices in a bowl, pour over the hot stock, then cover and leave to stand for 5 mins.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan or griddle pan. Cut halloumi into 6-8 slices and cook quickly on each side for 2 mins until lightly tinged brown.
• Mix vegetables and tomatoes into couscous, fork in the lemon juice, oil and coriander. Pile onto plates and top with halloumi.

Steps:

• Bring broth with 1/4 teaspoon salt just to a boil in a small saucepan, then pour over couscous in a bowl and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion with 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add zucchini and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to moderately low, then stir in coriander, chili powder, cumin, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, 2 minutes. Gently stir zucchini mixture into couscous and cool to warm or room temperature. Just before serving, stir in mint and lemon juice.

Steps:

• Bring stock, currants, salt and allspice to boil.
• Add couscous and boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes.
• Fluff with fork and serve.

Steps:

• Put vegetable stock, shallots, carrots and spices into a pot and bring to a rapid boil.
• Boil for two or three minutes until the carrots are becoming tender.
• Pour in couscous, cover and remove from heat.
• Let stand for about five minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is tender.
• Put back onto a very low heat and just stir through the margarine until the couscous is fluffed up.

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ras el hanout and toast, stirring, 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and remove from the heat. Let sit until the couscous is tender, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and heavy cream in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Whisk 1 tablespoon lime juice and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium bowl; add the cilantro and cucumber and season with salt and pepper. Whisk the yogurt and remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lime juice in a separate bowl; season with salt.
• Fluff the couscous with a fork and return to medium heat. Add the egg mixture and gently stir with a rubber spatula, bringing the eggs and couscous from the sides to the center of the skillet. Cook, stirring, until no longer wet and the egg starts to stick to the bottom of the pan, about 7 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the couscous and eggs among shallow bowls. Drizzle with the yogurt and top with the cucumber salad.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Saute garlic with red pepper flakes for 2 minutes being careful not to burn garlic. Add the chicken broth, turn up heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover and remove from the heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and fluff with fork. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

Steps:

• Toast and chop cashews or pistachios.
• Melt 1/4 c butter in medium saucepan over low heat.
• Add spices and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add stock and currants.
• Can be prepared 4 hours ahead, bring to boil.
• Mix in couscous and 2 tbsps.
• butter.
• Cover and remove from heat.
• Let stand 5 minutes.
• Fluff with fork; season with salt.
• Transfer couscous to bowl, add nuts and toss well.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first eight ingredients; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; stir in couscous. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.

Steps:

• Tip the couscous and chickpeas into a bowl and pour over the stock. Cover and leave for 5-10 mins until the couscous has absorbed the stock. Allow to cool a little. Toss through the lemon zest and juice, pepper, almonds and mint. Spoon into a container, then top with the yogurt and a drizzle of harissa.

Steps:

• To prepare the zucchini, cut into 3 inch logs and split lengthwise in halves. Trim out the soft seeded center. Cut the halves lengthwise into strips about 1/2 inch thick on the outside. For color variation, you can replace one of the zucchini with a yellow summer squash.
• Mix together the spices in a small bowl.
• Sprinkle 1/3 of the spice blend and rub into the chicken cubes.
• In a large saucepan bring the water, broth, hot sauce to a boil. Add in the remaining spice blend. Reduce to a high simmer and cook 3 minutes.
• Place the couscous in a covered bowl along with the lemon juice. Add 1 1/3 cups of the hot spiced broth from the saucepan and cover. Let it sit until you are ready to serve.
• Add the chicken and carrots to the simmering broth and cook for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and cook an additional 2 minutes. (I like my squash fairly crisp, if you prefer it more tender then add it a bit earlier. Just make sure the total cooking time is the same.) Add the currants or raisins and cook for a final minute.
• Using a fork fluff the couscous and place the grains on a serving plate.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken, veggies and raisins to the top of the couscous. (Alternately, you can shape the couscous in a ring and place the meat and vegetables in the center.).
• Sprinkle almonds on top.
• Serve the spicy broth alongside. If you like a thicker sauce, quickly whisk in a bit of cornstarch or arrowroot into the broth and bring to a quick boil for a minute to thicken.