Moroccan Seafood Stew With Couscous

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pine nuts in a single layer on an ungreased, rimmed baking sheet. Toast in the oven until fragrant and lightly golden, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Keep an eye on them and DO NOT WALK AWAY during the last few minutes to make sure those precious pine nuts do not burn. Immediately transfer them to a bowl to stop their cooking and to make sure the hot pan doesn't burn them once they are out of the oven.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for 3 minutes, until they begin to soften. Add the salt, pepper, and cumin and cook for 30 seconds.
• Pour in the broth. Increase the heat to high and bring it to a boil. As soon as the liquid begins to boil, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the couscous, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
• With a fork, fluff up the couscous. Add the raisins, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, and toasted pine nuts to the pot, then stir the ingredients together to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Enjoy hot.

BEST MOROCCAN FISH RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pan with cover, heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (I used Private Reserve) over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking.
• Add minced garlic and cook very briefly, tossing regularly, until fragrant. Add tomato paste, diced tomato, and bell peppers. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes over medium heat, tossing frequently.
• Now, add chickpeas, water, cilantro, and sliced garlic. Season with kosher salt and pepper. Stir in 1/2 tsp Ras El Hanout spice mixture. Raise heat, if needed, and bring to a boil. Lower heat. Cover part-way and let simmer for about 20 minutes. (Check occasionally and add a little water if needed.)
• Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, combine remaining Ras El Hanout with cumin and paprika. Season the fish with kosher salt and pepper and the spice mixture on both sides. Add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Work the fish to make sure it's well coated with the spices and the olive oil.
• When ready, add the season fish to the pan, and make sure to nestle the fish pieces into the saucy chickpea and tomato mixture. Ladle a bit of the sauce on top of the fish. Add lemon juice and lemon slices. Cook another 10 to 15 minutes over medium-low until the fish is fully cooked and flaky. Garnish with more fresh cilantro.
• Serve immediately with your favorite crusty bread, grain, or rice.

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.

VEGAN MOROCCAN COUSCOUS WITH RAISINS AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions and 1/2 of the garlic and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cumin, chile powder, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, coriander, and ginger and cook for a few seconds. Add vegetable stock, tomatoes with their juice, pumpkin, sweet potato, celery, carrot, turnip, and green beans. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are just tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in remaining garlic, zucchini, and garbanzo beans. Cook until vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine couscous and raisins in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Mix well to moisten the couscous. Set aside to soak for 5 minutes.
• Ladle 2 cups of cooking liquid from the vegetable stew over the couscous mixture. Cover and set aside to soak for 10 minutes. Cover stew to keep warm.
• Ladle 1 1/4 cups hot cooking liquid from the vegetables into a bowl. Stir in cilantro, lemon juice, and cumin. Add chile sauce.
• Reheat stew if necessary. Fluff up couscous with a fork and mound on a platter or large bowl. Sprinkle with orange flower water and cinnamon. Ladle some of the vegetable stew over the couscous and serve the rest separately. Serve with the chile sauce mixture on the side.

MOROCCAN VEGETABLE STEW WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium high heat.
• Add carrots, squash, and onion and cook until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in garbanzo beans, stewed tomatoes, prunes, cinnamon, salt, crushed red pepper, and 1 and 1/2 cups water.
• Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes or until all vegetables are tender.
• Meanwhile, prepare couscous as label directs, but use vegetable broth in place of the water called for on label.
• Stir cilantro into stew.
• Spoon stew over couscous to serve.