Couscous W Moroccan Lamb Brothglazed Onions Fried Almonds Food

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saute pan, add the shallots and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Add the chicken stock, salt and pepper, raise the heat to high and bring the stock to a boil. Off the heat and add the couscous. Cover the pan and let it sit for 10 minutes.
• Add the pignoli nuts and currants to the couscous, stir and serve.
• Place the chickens, onions, carrots, celery, parsnips, parsley, thyme, dill, garlic, salt, and peppercorns in a 16 to 20-quart stockpot with 7 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Skim the surface as needed. Simmer uncovered for 4 hours. Strain the entire contents of the pot through a colander, discarding the chicken and vegetables, and chill. Discard the hardened fat, and then pack the broth in quart containers.

COUSCOUS WITH LAMB, ONIONS, AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Prepare the couscous in a large, round, ovenproof dish as described on page 112, leaving the final heating in the oven to be done 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
• Prepare the meat broth in a large pan. Put in the meat, with about 1/2 pound onions, chopped, and cover with 7 1/2 cups water. Bring to the boil and remove the scum. Add salt and pepper, the ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the cloves. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours. At this point, add the saffron and more water, if necessary, and simmer for another 30 minutes, or until the meat is so tender you can pull it apart with your fingers.
• At the same time, prepare the honeyed onion tfaya. Cut the remaining onions in half and slice them. Put them in a pan with 1 cup water. Put the lid on and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, until the onions are very soft. Remove the lid and cook further, until the liquid has evaporated. Add the butter and oil and cook until the onions are golden. Stir in the honey and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, the drained raisins, and a pinch of salt. Continue cooking for another 10 minutes, or until the onions caramelize and become brown.
• Fry the almonds in a drop of oil until golden, turning them over, then drain on paper towels. Coarsely chop about half of them.
• About 20 to 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, put the couscous in the oven, preheated to 400°F, and heat through until it is steaming hot, fluffing it with a fork after about 10 minutes. Before serving, fork the butter, cut into small pieces, into the couscous and again fluff up the couscous as it melts in.
• To serve, moisten the couscous with a ladle of broth and mix in the chopped almonds, and leave it in the baking dish or turn it onto a large, round platter; shape it into a mound and make a wide shallow hollow in the center. Put the meat in the hollow, cover with the onion and raisin tfaya, and sprinkle with the remaining whole, fried almonds. Serve the broth separately.

COUSCOUS W/ MOROCCAN LAMB BROTH,GLAZED ONIONS& FRIED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Couscous: Place couscous in a fine strainer and rinse under cold running waterDump couscous into large bowl and let stand until grins swell, about 10 minutes. Break up lumps with your fingers.
• Fill a large steamer pot or stockpot with water. Set up steamer making sure there are 4 inches between simmering water and steamer basket. Carefully pour couscous into steamer or colander. Steam couscous, uncovered, over simmering water for 15 minutes.
• Pour couscous onto large, rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with 1 cup cold water and salt; use long fork or oiled hands to spread couscous and break up any lumps. Set aside for at least 5 minutes. (Couscous can be covered with paper towels and stored at room temperature up to 8 hours.).
• Add water to pot, making sure there is enough room between simmering water and steamer bottom. Carefully pour couscous into perforated steamer or colander; steam couscous, uncovered, over simmering water for 20 minutes.
• Moroccan Lamb Broth with Chickpeas and Vegetables:
• Bring chickpeas and 7 cups water to simmer in medium saucepan. Simmer, covered, until chickpeas are just tender, about 1 hour. Drain chickpeas, then pour into bowl of cold water. Gently rub chickpeas between fingers to remove skins. Discard skins, drain chickpeas, and set aside.
• Place lamb, salt, pepper, ginger, saffron, onions, parsley and cilantro, and butter in soup kettle. Melt butter over low heat, swirling pan once or twice to let spices and meat mix gently. Add 3 quarts of water and bring to a simmer. Add chickpeas; cover, and simmer until meat is tender, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Cool lamb broth, skimming fat that rises to the surface. Remove 2 cups of broth and strain it; reserve for glazed onion topping. Remove and discard herb bundle. Remove shanks and separate meat from bone; return meat to broth. (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 days.).
• About 30 minutes before serving, bring lamb broth to simmer. Add carrots, turnips, pumpkin, and zucchini. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Adjust seasonings. Remove another 3 cups of broth and strain it; reserve for moistening couscous. (There will be only a little broth left in meat and vegetables at this point.)
• Glazed Onions with Raisins:.
• Bring broth to boil in saucepan. Add remaining ingredients, including salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover and simmer until liquid boils away and onions have glazed appearance, 30 to 45 minutes. (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 days.) Warm before serving.
• Fried Almonds: Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add almonds; fry until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels and set aside. (Can be stored in airtight container up to 2 days.).
• To Assemble: Prepare Steamed Couscous, Moroccan Lamb Broth with Chickpeas and Vegetables, Glazed Onions with Raisins, and Fried Almonds as described above. Pour couscous onto large flat serving dish with sloping sides and toss with butter. Use fork to smooth out any remaining lumps. Form couscous into a large ring, leaving a small opening in the center for meat. Pour 3 cups reserved broth over couscous. Cover, and let stand 10 minutes.
• Remove meat from broth and place in center opening. Scatter vegetables over couscous . Spread glazed onions over meat and vegetables, then sprinkle with almonds. Serve immediately. (Leftovers can be stored in covered container and refrigerated up to 2 days. Reheat individual portions in microwave.).

GOLDEN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring broth to boil in medium saucepan. Reduce heat to very low; cover to keep hot. Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions; sauté until tender and light golden, about 8 minutes. Add turmeric and cumin; stir 1 minute. Add couscous; stir until coated with onion mixture. Mix in hot broth. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand until broth is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Fluff couscous with fork. Season generously with salt and pepper. Mound on platter. Sprinkle with almonds.

MOROCCAN BRAISED LAMB WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• The day before serving, season the meat heavily with salt and pepper, and sear it in a frying pan with one tablespoon of the oil. Then preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Put the meat in a pot, add a little water, and braise, covered, for about 2 hours, or until tender. Set aside to cool, and then refrigerate overnight.
• Also the day before serving, heat the remaining oil in another pot, and sauté the leek and the onions. When the onions are translucent, add the turnips, carrots, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, ras el hanout, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, and garlic. Cover the vegetables and spices with water, and simmer, covered, until the carrots are tender.
• The next day, cut the lamb into 2-inch chunks, and put it in the pot with the vegetables. Add the zucchini. Simmer slowly until the zucchini is just cooked but still bright green. Adjust seasonings, and stir in the harissa sauce. (I also serve more at the table, so that people can adjust the heat to their taste.)
• Stir together the harissa, couscous broth, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, cinnamon, and Spanish pepper in a small bowl. Serve with the couscous.