Best North African Couscous Recipes

TRADITIONAL NORTH AFRICAN COUSCOUS (THE REAL WAY!)

Steps:

• Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic & place it in a large heavy bottomed pan with the meat or chicken, ras el hanout & a little olive oil. Fry gently to seal the meat/chicken. I use my pressure cooker pr large cast iron casserole for this.
• Chop the carrot, parsnip and courgette into 6ths. Cut the potato into 1/4's and roughly chop the swede. Chop khourchef or celery into roughly same size as carrot. (Peel the carrots, potato, parsnip and swede).
• Add the vegetables to the meat along with 1L of water and turn up heat so they begin simmering. If using the chilli add it now, along with salt and pepper. If cooking in a regular pan then cook for 40 minutes like this. If using the pressure cooker as I do then 20 minutes will be enough.
• Add the tomatoes, chick peas and dried mint and 1/2L more water or enough to create a 'stew' consistency.
• Return to heat and cook in pan for further 30 minutes and if using pressure cooker then cook on med to high for a further 25 minutes.
• Take a 500g pack of medium couscous and pour into a gas'a if you have one. If not find the biggest bowl you have. Pick out any 'bits' and sprinkle water - about 50mls and a tsp of salt over the couscous and using your hand rub 1/2 tsp of oil through the couscous to stop it sticking. Fill a couscousier or steamer half full with the couscous (as it swells).
• When you 1st notice steam coming from the couscous, count 10 minutes. After that remove from the steamer, place in gas'a and use your hands to 'open' the couscous (rub it together between hands to remove clumps). This is very hot and you need to keep wetting you hand with cold water and sprinkling a little on the couscous.
• Return to steamer when thoroughly opened. Repeat process of steaming and opening twice more.
• Finally remove from steamer and place back in gas'a. Open for final time and rub a tbsp of ghee or smen into the couscous along with 2tsp of butter or margarine. Add salt to taste.
• Serve the couscous in the gas'a with sauce on top as traditional style or in tagine etc. Usually we place the meat/chicken in place - 1 for each guest and decorate the couscous with the veg before ladling some of the sauce over the top.
• If you used the chilli, put it on a plate and let people help themselves to it!

NORTH AFRICAN COUSCOUS PAELLA

Steps:

• Heat oil in saucepan. Add the peppers, scallions, garlic, coriander, turmeric and cayenne. Saute over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the stock or water. Add the shrimp or tofu and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until the shrimp is pink. Stir in the peas and cook for another minute.
• Mix in the couscous and butter or margarine. Cover, remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Uncover the pan, and using a fork, fluff up the couscous and break up any lumps.
• Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve on a platter, topped with toasted almonds, parsley and lemon wedges.

NORTH AFRICAN COUSCOUS WITH TEMPEH

Steps:

• Mix 1/3 cup water, soy sauce, honey, 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, garlic, lemon juice, and liquid smoke together in a bowl until marinade is smooth; add tempeh and turn to coat evenly. Marinate tempeh, turning frequently, for 20 minutes.
• Combine vegetable broth, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 1/2 tablespoons curry powder, and salt in a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid; bring to a boil. Add couscous, cover saucepan, and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; add tempeh and marinade. Cook tempeh until browned on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn and brown the other side, about 5 minutes more. Remove tempeh from skillet.
• Pour remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil into the same skillet; cook and stir onion until fragrant and brown, about 4 minutes. Add chickpeas and water; cook and stir using a wooden spoon to break up brown bits of food on the skillet, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
• Fold couscous into the onion mixture; add tempeh. Sprinkle mint over couscous; cook and stir until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes.

NORTH AFRICAN SPICY CHICKEN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In small bowl, combine curry powder, cumin, salt, paprika, cinnamon and pepper flakes; mix North African Spice Blend well. In another small bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, gingerroot and 1 tablespoon North African Spice Blend (reserving remaining Spice Blend for couscous); blend well. Reserve 1/2 cup mixture for basting. Place chicken in plastic bag with remainder of marinade and turn to coat. Let stand in refrigerator 15 minutes. Grate 1 teaspoon zest from orange. Cut away remaining peel and pith. Chop orange; set aside. Remove chicken from marinade and place on broiler pan about 5-inches from heat. Broil 7 minutes; turn chicken, brush with reserved marinade. Broil additional 6 minutes or until fork can be inserted with ease and juices run clear. While chicken is broiling, bring broth, currants, orange zest and remaining Spice Blend to a boil. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat, let stand 5 minutes. Stir in chopped orange, toasted nuts, onions and cilantro. Spread on serving platter. Remove chicken to cutting board and slice diagonally into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange on couscous. Garnish with citrus curls.

NORTH AFRICAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Add the first 14 ingredients to a non-reactive saucepan.
• Cover pan and bring to a boil; lower heat, and simmer for about 5 minutes or until carrots are just tender.
• Add in the bell pepper and cook for 2 more minutes.
• Take pan off of burner and add in the peas.
• Add in couscous; stir.
• Cover and let sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Add in olives; fluff couscous with a fork to mix.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon onto individual plates; sprinkle with pine nuts and currants.

NORTH AFRICAN CHICKEN AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan, and gradually stir in couscous and raisins.
• Remove from heat.
• Cover; let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Combine orange juice and next 6 ingredients (orange juice through black pepper); stir well with a whisk.
• Combine the couscous mixture, juice mixture, chicken, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl, and toss well.
• Garnish with green onions, if desired.

NORTH AFRICAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Thinly slice the onion and carrot. Saute with olive oil on medium heat. Add the tomatoes and the garlic (press first). Add the raisins and the spices. Add the chickpeas. Let simmer and prepare the couscous. Mix together.