Couscous With Preserved Lemon Food

COUSCOUS-PARSLEY SALAD WITH PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the couscous with the water and lemon juice. Let stand 1 hour.
• To the couscous add the olive oil, parsley, mint, preserved lemon rind, pine nuts, salt and pepper. Mound the couscous in the center of a serving platter. Top with diced tomato. Surround the base with endive leaves. Serve at room temperature.
• Scrub the lemons under running water and pat dry. Cut a thin slice from each end of a lemon. Set on end and make a vertical cut 3/4 of the way through the fruit, leaving the 2 halves attached. Turn the lemon upside down, rotate 90 degrees, and make a second vertical cut, again 3/4 of the way through the fruit. Fill each cut with as much salt as it will hold. Place the lemon in a sterilized, 1-quart size, wide-mouth canning jar. Proceed in this manner for the remaining lemons, pressing as many into the jar as possible. Seal and set aside at room temperature. Add additional lemons over the next few days as the rinds of the first lemons begin to soften. By this time, the juices should have risen to cover the lemons. If not, add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice mixed with 1 teaspoon of salt. This will prevent the top lemons from darkening. Store at room temperature until the rinds become tender, and the pulp acquires the consistency of jam, 3 to 4 weeks. Refrigerate. Use within 6 months.
• Yield: 1 quart

COUSCOUS WITH QUICK PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• If the couscous is instant, follow the instructions on the packet.
• For non-instant couscous, place the couscous into a large bowl. Fill a stock pot or large pasta pot 3/4 of the way with water. Bring water to a boil. Pour the couscous into the boiling water and stir. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes until the couscous is tender. Drain the couscous and toss in preserved lemon and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper.
• Quick preserved lemon: Slice 2 lemons into 1/4-inch slices, lay out on a plate and salt on 1 side. Turn over and salt the other. Stack on top of themselves and let sit for 20 minutes in a baking dish. Rinse gently with cold water and dice into 1/2-inch pieces.

CHORIZO AND PRESERVED LEMON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Toast the couscous in a saucepan over medium heat until evenly golden, being careful not to burn it. Add 1 cup (250ml) water and a pinch of salt and cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook until almost crispy, about 3 minutes. Add the shallot and cook until soft. Stir in the garlic and preserved lemon peel.
• Stir the couscous into the chorizo mixture. Just before serving, drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Stir in the chives and parsley and season with salt and pepper.
• Wash the lemons very well. Cut each lemon lengthwise in quarters without slicing all the way through, leaving the lemons whole. Place the lemons in a sterilized jar. Add the salt, lemon juice, peppercorns and kaffir lime leaves and mix well. Add more lemon juice if needed to just cover the lemons. Close with a lid and refrigerate. Stir the lemons every day or two to help dissolve the salt. Allow the lemons to cure for at least 1 week. Rinse under cold water before using.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F.
• Halve lemons and scoop out flesh, keeping both flesh and peel. Cut enough peel into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1/4 cup. Put lemon flesh in a sieve set over a bowl and press with back of a spoon to extract juice.
• Toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil and salt to taste in a large shallow baking pan and spread in 1 layer. Roast in upper third of oven 15 minutes, or until squash is just tender, and transfer to a large bowl.
• Cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to turn golden. Add to squash.
• Cook couscous with cinnamon stick in a large pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain in a colander (do not rinse). Add couscous to vegetables and toss with 2 tablespoon oil to coat.
• Add lemon peel and juice, parsley, nuts, raisins, ground cinnamon, and salt to taste. Toss to mix well.
• To adapt this recipe to serve 50:
• 4 to 5 preserved lemons
• 5 lb. butternut squash, peeled and seeded
• 3/4 to 1 cup olive oil
• 3 cups chopped onion
• 7 cups Israeli couscous or acini di pepe (tiny peppercorn-shaped pasta), about 3 lb.
• 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 3 cups chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 cups pine nuts, toasted
• 2 cups golden raisins
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Preheat oven to 475°F.
• Halve lemons and scoop out flesh, keeping both flesh and peel. Cut enough peel into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 cup. Put lemon flesh in a sieve set over a bowl and press with back of a spoon to extract juice.
• Cut enough squash into 1/4-inch dice to measure about 12 cups and toss with 1/3 cup oil and salt to taste. Roast in single layers in batches in your largest shallow baking pan in upper third of oven 15 minutes, or until just tender.
• Cook 1/2 of onion in 3 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to turn golden. Add to squash. Repeat with remaining onion and more oil.
• Cook couscous with cinnamon sticks in an 8-qt. pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain in a colander (do not rinse). Toss couscous with 3 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add squash, onion, lemon peel and juice, and remaining ingredients. Season with salt (you'll need a lot) and toss to mix well.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS, PEAS, PRESERVED LEMONS, MINT & GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan or non-stick wok. Fry the leeks and garlic on a medium heat for 2-3 minutes to soften, then add the salt and preserved lemon, and stir to combine. Tip in the Israeli couscous and continue frying for another 2 minutes or until the little couscous balls start to go golden.
• Add half the boiling water and the peas. Boil until most of the water has soaked in, then add the rest of the water and cook on a high heat until it has also been sucked up by the couscous.
• Remove from the heat, add the mint and parsley and stir well. Finally crumble the goats' cheese all over and serve.

PINE NUT AND PRESERVED LEMON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In shallow pan, add the couscous.
• Bring water to a simmer and pour over the couscous.
• Cover and let sit until all of the liquid as evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• In a small sauti pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the onions.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Sauti for 1 minute.
• Stir the onions, pine nuts, preserved lemons and parsley into the couscous and serve.

COUSCOUS SALAD WITH DRIED APRICOTS AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a small dry skillet, toast cumin seeds until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly crush them using a mortar and a pestle (or use the flat side of a heavy knife and a cutting board). Add to a bowl with the warm couscous, vinegar, salt and pepper and toss well. When the couscous is cool, add remaining ingredients and mix well. Taste and add more salt, lemon juice or oil if needed. Garnish with pistachio nuts if desired.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH PRESERVED LEMONS AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine the lemon juice, honey, garlic. turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper in a large glass or ceramic dish. Add the chicken and turn over so that it is thoroughly coated with the marinade. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least three hours, preferably overnight, to develop the flavours.
• Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and reserve the marinade.
• Place the chicken and the preserved lemon in a roasting pan.
• Roast in a preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
• Transfer the chicken and lemon to serving plate.
• Wipe the pan with paper towels to remove any fat, add the reserved marinade and 1/2 a cup of the stock and bring to the boil over a high heat.
• Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
• Remove from the heat.
• Heat a small sauté pan over a medium heat, add the almonds and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until toasted.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over a medium heat, add the onion and chilli and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until both have softened.
• Add the remaining stock and bring to the boil.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add the couscous and stir to combine. Cover and set aside for 5 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.
• Use a fork to separate the grains.
• Add the marinade mixture, almonds and currants to the couscous, and cook, stirring, over a low heat for 2 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed.
• Remove from the heat.
• Carve the chicken across the grain into thick slices, spoon the couscous among the serving plates, sprinkle with coriander, top with chicken and serve with baked lemon wedges.

LEMON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Stir chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, butter, and salt together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add couscous to the liquid and stir to coat completely. Place a cover on the saucepan, remove from heat, and let couscous soak in hot liquid until the moisture is mostly absorbed, about 5 minutes.
• Fluff couscous with a fork. Stir pimento peppers, pine nuts, and parsley into the couscous.