Couscous With Chickpeas And Prunes Food

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 392F / 200C.Add the butternut squash, red onions and pepper to a large baking tray. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle over 1 and a half tablespoons of olive oil.Toss the vegetables then bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes remove the tray from the oven then add the zucchini/courgette. Toss all the vegetables together then return the tray to the oven and bake for a further 20 minutes. The vegetables should be soft and slightly charred on the edges.
• While the veggies are roasting, make the couscous.
• Add the couscous to a large bowl, pour in the vegetable stock, stir, then cover the bowl with cling film or something similar. Leave for 10 minutes
• While the couscous is doing its magic and the veggies are roasting, make the dressing.Add all the spices, lemon zest and lemon juice to a bowl, whisk in the 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil. Set aside until you are ready to use it.
• When the couscous is ready, use a fork and scrape the couscous to loosen it up. It should be nice and fluffy.
• Now add the chickpeas and the dressing to the couscous, stir well.
• Add the veggies and the chopped apricots and stir again.
• Finally, add the herbs and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve with blanched almond slivers and pomegranate arils/seeds.

VEGETABLE TAGINE WITH ALMOND & CHICKPEA COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Fry the shallots in the oil for 5 mins until they are softening and browned. Add the squash and spices, and stir for 1 min. Pour in the stock, season well, then add the prunes and honey. Cover and simmer for 8 mins.
• Add the peppers and cook for 8-10 mins until just tender. Stir in the coriander and mint.
• Pour 400ml boiling water over the couscous in a bowl, then stir in the harissa with ½ tsp salt. Tip in the chickpeas, then cover and leave for 5 mins. Fluff up with a fork and serve with the tagine, flaked almonds and extra mint.

COUSCOUS SALAD WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Chop the aubergine and red pepper, add the harissa paste, and mix well to coat.
• Roast in the pre-heated oven at 200 degrees Celsius (390 Fahrenheit) for 10-15 minutes until tender.
• Add the couscous, dried fruit and spices to a large bowl, pour over the boiling water, cover the bowl with a lid or a large plate, and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Use a fork to fluff it up, add the roasted vegetables, chickpeas and parsley, and stir well to combine.
• Serve it either warm or cold.

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS, SPINACH AND MINT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the spices. Stir together for about half a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and add the drained chickpeas, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add the tomato paste, the harissa and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender. Remove 1 cup of the broth to flavor the couscous.
• Reconstituting and steaming the couscous: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the couscous and salt to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the couscous and add the cup of broth you removed from the stew. Stir well, or moisten your fingers and rub the couscous with them to evenly distribute the oil and broth. Add enough water to cover by 1/2 inch and let sit for 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon or rub the couscous between your moistened thumbs and fingers, so that the couscous doesn't lump. The couscous will now be fairly soft; fluff it with a fork or with your hands. The traditional way to finish reconstituting the couscous is to place it above the simmering stew for 45 minutes. I find, however, that steaming it in a microwave results in perfectly fluffy couscous. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic and pierce the plastic with the tip of a paring knife. Heat at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully and allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plastic and fluff with forks or a spoon. Cover again with plastic and microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plastic as the couscous will be steamy. You can reconstitute the couscous a day ahead and reheat in the microwave shortly before serving.
• Shortly before serving, stir in the spinach and the mint. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. The stew should be spicy and flavorful. Serve the couscous in wide bowls or mound onto plates and top with the stew. Pass more harissa at the table.

SLOW-COOKER MOROCCAN BEEF STEW WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Stir the carrots, celery root and 1/2 cup prunes in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Toss the beef with the ras el hanout, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Arrange on top of the vegetables. Whisk the chicken broth and tomato paste in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup and pour over the meat and vegetables. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender, 7 to 8 hours.
• About 15 minutes before serving, cook the couscous as the label directs.
• Skim the fat off the top of the stew with a ladle and discard. Stir in the harissa and season with salt and pepper. Divide the couscous and stew among bowls. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup prunes and cilantro; serve with more harissa.

CHICKPEA AND COUSCOUS DELIGHT

Steps:

• Bring water to boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous, and remove from heat. Cover, and let stand about 5 minutes, until liquid has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
• In a large bowl, mix couscous and garbanzo beans. Toss in tomatoes and cucumbers. Stir olive oil and vinegar into the mixture. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

PEARL COUSCOUS WITH CREAMY FETA AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a 9-inch baking dish, cake pan or gratin dish, toss together tomatoes, scallions, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon vinegar, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and oregano sprigs. Roast until tomatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
• While tomatoes roast, heat the stock until it boils, then stir in remaining 1 teaspoon salt, adding more to taste. (You want a well-seasoned broth here to flavor the couscous.) Stir in cilantro, lemon zest and cumin.
• Remove tomatoes from oven and fold in couscous, chickpeas and hot stock mixture. Cover pan tightly with foil, and return to oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove foil and fold in about 3/4ths of the feta (save the rest for garnish) and Parmesan. Bake uncovered until feta starts to melt, another 5 minutes.
• To serve, pull out and discard herb sprigs if you like, and spoon couscous into bowls. Top with remaining feta, lots more herbs, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

CHICKPEA COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine chickpeas, raisins, oil, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper; bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, and cover pot; remove from heat. Set aside (5 minutes). Fluff couscous gently with a fork before serving.

COUSCOUS WITH PRUNES AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes until golden brown (break open to check). Let cool.
• Combine almonds with couscous, prunes, clarified butter, lemon juice, chives, and cinnamon; season with salt.

SHORTCUT MOROCCAN VEGETABLE TAGINE WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 7 minutes. Add the chickpeas, raisins, harissa, cinnamon, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, until the spices are toasted, about 30 seconds.
• Working over the skillet, rip the tomatoes into large chunks with your hands and add to the skillet; add 2 cups water. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until the tomatoes and chickpeas have softened, about 12 minutes. Stir in the squash and olives, cover and cook until the squash is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir gently, so as not to break apart the squash too much, and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• While the tagine simmers, prepare the couscous according to the package directions.
• Remove the tagine from the heat, and stir in the cilantro. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and harissa, if desired. Divide the couscous among four plates, and spoon the tagine over it. Serve with additional harissa on the side.

COUS COUS WITH GARBANZO BEANS, PRUNES AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until very tender and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes. Add garbanzo beans and prunes and stir 1 minute. Add broth and cinnamon and bring to boil. Mix in couscous. Cover pot; remove from heat. Let stand 15 minutes.
• Using fork, fluff couscous. Mix in mint and half of almonds. Season with salt and pepper. Mound couscous in bowl. Sprinkle with remaining almonds.

COUSCOUS WITH CLEMENTINES, CHICKPEAS, OLIVES, AND DATES

Steps:

• Bring broth to boil in small saucepan. Mix couscous, 1 teaspoon salt, and olive oil in medium bowl. Pour boiling broth over couscous mixture. Stir, then cover with plastic wrap. Let stand 15 minutes.
• Using vegetable peeler, remove peel (orange part only) of clementines; chop peel. Remove any remaining pith from clementines and cut flesh into 1/4-inch pieces. Combine chopped peel and flesh in small bowl and set aside.
• Bring chickpeas with liquid to boil in saucepan. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until chickpeas are heated through, about 3 minutes. Drain chickpeas. Gently fluff couscous with fork. Add chickpeas, olives, dates, mint, and clementines. Stir to incorporate evenly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

VEGETABLE COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS & PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• For the broth, bring the stock to a simmer in a large pan. Add the harissa and vegetables, bring back to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins. Add the figs and continue to cook for 5 mins more until the veg is tender.
• Meanwhile, put the couscous and half the chickpeas into a bowl, add the butter, and season. Pour 350ml boiling water over the couscous, cover with cling film, leave aside for 10 mins, then fluff up with a fork.
• In a separate bowl, combine the red onion, spring onions, harissa, olive oil, remaining chickpeas, lemon juice and coriander, then mix into the couscous. Pile onto a large deep serving dish, ladle over the braised vegetables and broth, and sprinkle with the preserved lemons and chopped mint.

VEGETABLE AND CHICKPEA TAGINE WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Warm the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot set over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, or until it softens and turns translucent.
• Add the garlic, cumin, ginger, and cinnamon, and sauté for 1 minute, or until the spices are fragrant.
• Add the sweet potato and sauté to coat with the spices.
• Pour in the vegetable stock.
• Add the cauliflower florets, drained chickpeas, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
• Simmer partially covered, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove from the heat and allow the tagine to rest while you prepare the couscous.
• Bring the water and oil to a boil in a medium saucepan.
• Stir in the couscous.
• Cover and remove from the heat. Allow the couscous to rest for 5 minutes, or until the water is absorbed.
• Fluff with a fork.
• Spoon a mound of couscous into shallow bowls.
• Surround the couscous with the vegetable tagine, and spoon some of the brothy sauce over each serving.
• Garnish as desired with harissa, slivered almonds, whole cashews, golden raisins, and parsley.

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS AND PRUNES

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add onions and sauté until very soften and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.
• Add garbanzo beans and prunes and combine.
• Add stock and cinnamon and bring to boil.
• Mix in couscous.
• Cover pot; remove from heat.
• Let stand 15 minutes.
• Fluff couscous.
• Mix in mint and half of almonds.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve in bowl and Sprinkle with remaining almonds.

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Microwave broth over high heat in a 1-quart glass measuring cup until piping hot, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add carrots, couscous and chickpeas; stir to combine. Stir in stock, cover and turn off heat. Let stand until stock is completely absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes. Add salt, if necessary, and pepper to taste. Fluff with a fork, strew with the optional chopped parsley and serve with the Mixed Grill.