Moroccan Spiced Vegetable Couscous Food

COUSCOUS WITH MOROCCAN SPICES

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).

MOROCCAN SPICED VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium-size skillet heat the oil over medium heat.
• Add red onion, yellow pepper, and carrot sauté 10-15 minutes or until brown and all the vegetables are your desired tenderness
• Add the garlic, sauté another minute.
• Mix in the salt & pepper, paprika, ground coriander, turmeric, celery salt, cumin ground cinnamon, and cayenne pepper (if using). Stir-fry until fragrant (about a minute).
• Add the frozen peas and cook briefly. Stir in the piquante peppers and chickpeas. Followed by the stock, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Add the chopped parsley and stir in the couscous. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Fluff and serve.

MOROCCAN VEGETABLES WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot heat oil over medium high heat. Stir in the onion and cook for 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in spices and cook until aroma is released. Stir in carrots, potatoes and squash and toss to coat. Cook vegetables for 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and water. If necessary add enough water so that all the vegetables are submerged. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Stir in zucchini and continue to cook for 20 more minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and season with salt and pepper, Tabasco and cilantro. Serve hot with couscous and warm pita bread.

MOROCCAN-SPICED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cut enough onion into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 cup and thinly slice garlic. Trim fennel stalks flush with bulb, discarding stalks. Halve bulb and core. Cut enough fennel bulb into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 1/4 cups. Cut enough zucchini into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 1/2 cups. Cut enough carrot into 1/4-inch dice to measure 2/3 cup.
• Peel tomato (see below), reserving boiling water and ice water, and seed. Cut enough tomato into 1/4-inch dice to measure 3/4 cup. Add carrot to boiling water and cook 1 minute. Drain carrot in a colander. Transfer carrot to ice water to stop cooking and drain.
• In a large heavy skillet cook onion and garlic in oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add fennel, zucchini, and carrot and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add spices and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in tomato and pepper and salt to taste and cook, covered, over low heat, stirring occasionally, until fennel and carrot are just tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Keep vegetables warm, partially covered. Vegetables may be prepared 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons water.
• To peel tomatoes:
• Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water. Cut an X in blossom end of each tomato. In a saucepan of boiling water blanch tomatoes 10 seconds. Transfer tomatoes with a slotted spoon to ice water to stop cooking. Peel tomatoes.

QUICK MOROCCAN VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place almonds in heavy medium skillet. Stir over medium heat until almonds are pale golden, about 4 minutes. Transfer almonds to bowl. Add oil to same skillet.Increase heat to medium-high. Add vegetables, cumin and coriander; sauté until vegetables just begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add wine and raisins. Boil until wine is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add broth. Partially cover skillet; simmer until vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, prepare couscous according to package directions.
• Mound couscous on platter. Spoon vegetable topping and juices over. Sprinkle with almonds and serve.

MOROCCAN CHICKPEA AND VEGETABLE STEW WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet on medium high heat.
• Add the zucchini, onion, carrot and garlic.
• Saute 5 minutes.
• (For a time-saver, use the matchstick carrots from the produce department) Stir in the broth, and the next 9 ingredients, and bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 8 minutes or until tender.
• Stir occasionally.
• While the stew simmers, bring the 1 1/2 cups water to a boil, stir in couscous, and remove from heat.
• Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Serve stew over couscous.