Best Moroccan Inspired Country Style Rib Ragu With Couscous Cakes Recipes

MOROCCAN-INSPIRED COUNTRY-STYLE RIB RAGU WITH COUSCOUS CAKES

Steps:

• For the pork chops: Put pork cubes in a large bowl and toss with oil. Mix 2 tsp paprika, 2 tsp coriander, 2 tsp turmeric, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp ginger, and 1 tsp cumin, Sprinkle half of the spice mixture over pork and toss well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 and up to 3 hours. Reserve remaining spice mixture.
• To make the tagine: Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. In batches, add pork and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer pork to a plate.
• Add more oil to the skillet if needed. Add leeks, carrots, cinnamon, 2 sprigs thyme, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes and 2 bay leaves to the skillet and sauté together about 4 minutes, adding more by the tablespoon, if needed. Stir in the 6 cloves garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in remaining reserved spices from step 1 and cook for 15 seconds. Stir in tomatoes with their juices, 1 cup broth, and tomato paste and bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a large sauce pan. Return to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until juices thicken and vegetables are just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in chickpeas. Bury the pork in the sauce and cover. Simmer until the pork is just tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the couscous cakes: Bring 1 1/2 cup stock to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the couscous, almonds, currants, chives, lemon zest, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper and stir well. Remove from heat and cover tightly for 10 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Fluff couscous with a fork. Stir in yolks. Press couscous mixture into six 3-inch-wide cakes. Transfer to a plate and let stand 5 minutes.
• Heat 3 Tbs olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry cakes, turning once, until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs and transfer tagine to a serving dish. Sprinkle cilantro and mint on top and serve hot, with couscous cakes.

PORK RIB RAGU

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Halve leek lengthwise and rinse thoroughly; dry well and coarsely chop. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Season ribs with salt and pepper. In batches, cook ribs until browned, 4 to 6 minutes per batch. Transfer ribs to a plate. Add leek, carrots, and celery to pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables soften slightly, about 5 minutes. Add wine; bring to a simmer and reduce wine by half.
• Return ribs to pot and cover with water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, cover, then place pot in oven. Cook until meat is falling off bones, about 3 1/2 hours. Transfer ribs to a rimmed baking sheet and strain cooking liquid into a heatproof container; skim fat from liquid. When ribs are cool enough to handle, shred meat (discard fat and bones).
• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium. Add onion and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in flour to coat. Gradually whisk in cooking liquid and simmer until thickened, about 8 minutes. Add pork to sauce and heat through.

MOROCCAN-INSPIRED BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a medium sized saucepan.
• Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat (do not allow to boil), cook and stir constantly until the sauce is reduced to about 1 1/4 cups. This should take approximately 15 mintues.
• Pour mixture through a fine sieve to strain.
• Best made several hours in advance of using.
• Freezes well.