Moroccan Cous Cous

Moroccan Couscous with Seven Vegetables Recipe

This recipe courtesy of www.tasteofmaroc.com, is about as close as you can get to my traditional couscous recipe. If you have a couscousierre, you can steam the couscous according to the instuctions, but if not, you can follow a little trick that I use when I'm not able to do the steaming method. Fill a flat dish (such as a glass lasagna pan that has a lid) with the couscous. Massage it well with olive oil, salt and pepper. Not so much that the couscous is drenched in oil, but just enough to lightly coat each of the granules. Pour boiling stock or water over the couscous (1 part couscous to 2 parts liquid), mix and cover. Allow it to sit and steam, covered, until all of the liquid has been absorbed and the couscous is soft but not soggy.

If you want to keep it simply, you can just put together the broth, forgo the couscous steaming, and end up with a simple soup which is poured over the couscous. The tfaya is very simple to make, and brings a very special flavour.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, this is a meal that contains all six tastes. Especially when it is served in true Moroccan manner, which is at a table full of many small cooked salads, pickles, olives, harissa, and fresh cilantro.

I make the vegetarian version, which can be found in this recipe, super easy and full of goodness.

Authentic, delicious, wholesome comfort food.

This popular variation of Moroccan couscous features a variety of fresh vegetables stewed alongside lamb, beef or chicken. You can omit the meat for a vegetarian version; see the recipe notes.

For authentic results, the couscous should be steamed three times over the simmering broth. It doesn't add much time to your active prep work, but you will need a couscoussier or other large pot fitted with a steam basket. In a pinch, you can use instant couscous, but the texture won't be the same.

Dried chickpeas are preferred over canned. Remember to soak them overnight. They and other vegetables are added to the broth in increments, based on how long they take to cook.

Prep Time: 35minutes mins

Cook Time: 2hours hrs

Total Time2hours hrs 35minutes mins

Course: Main

Cuisine: Moroccan

Yield: 8 servings

Author: Christine Benlafquih | Taste of Maroc

Equipment

• Couscoussier | Large Steaming Pot

• Extra large mixing bowl

Ingredients

Couscous

• 2.2 lb. couscous (not instant; I prefer medium caliber)

• 1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil

• 6 cups water, divided (can use milk for final steaming)

• 2 to 3 tsp salt (added after 1st steaming)

• 2 tbsp soft butter (added after final steaming)

Meat and Broth Seasoning

• 2.2 lb. lamb, beef, or goat meat, large pieces on the bone (or 1 large whole chicken)

• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped

• 3 fresh tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped

• 1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil

• 1 1/2 tbsp salt

• 1 tbsp ginger

• 1 tbsp pepper

• 1 tsp turmeric

• 1 handful parsley and cilantro sprigs, tied into a bouquet

• 2 tsp smen - Moroccan preserved butter (optional; reserve until end of cooking)

Traditional Veggies

• 1/2 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight

• 1 small head of cabbage, cut in half or quartered

• 3 or 4 medium turnips, peeled and cut in half

• 8 to 10 carrots, peeled (cut in half lengthwise if large)

• 1 or 2 small tomatoes, peeled, seeded and quartered

• 1 or 2 small onions, cut in half (can use some whole fresh pearl onions instead)

• 1 small acorn squash, quartered (or wedge of pumpkin)

• 4 or 5 small zucchini, ends trimmed (or 8-ball round, cut in half)

Optional Veggies

• 2 or 3 chili peppers or jalapeños (simmer in a little broth or steam until tender)

• 1 cup fresh or frozen fava beans (add with 2nd steaming)

• 2 or 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in half (add with 3rd steaming)

• 1 bottle gourd, peeled, cleaned and cut into large pieces (add with 3rd steaming)

Optional Tfaya - Caramelized Onions and Raisins

• 1/2 cup raisins, soaked in water for 15 minutes

• 2 or 3 large onions, preferably red

• 1/2 cup water

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp honey

• 1/2 tsp pepper

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp ginger

• 1/4 tsp turmeric

• 1 pinch saffron threads, crumbled

• 1 pinch salt

• 1 tsp orange flower water (optional)

Instructions

Ahead of Time

• Soak the dried chickpeas in a large bowl of water overnight. (Or, use a quick soak method: boil the dried chickpeas for 4 or 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave them to soak for an hour.)

• Wash and prep your vegetables. Start making the tfaya (optional; see Recipe Notes).

• Set up an area to work with the couscous. In Morocco we use a gsaa (very wide, shallow serving and mixing dish), but another very large wide vessel or bowl can work. Have oil, water, salt, and butter out and ready. Lightly oil the steamer basket of a couscoussier.

Begin Making the Broth - See Recipe Notes if Using Chicken or Making Vegetarian Couscous

• Brown the meat or chicken with the oil, onion, tomatoes and spices in the base of a couscoussier over medium-high heat. Continue cooking, uncovered and stirring frequently, for about 10 to 15 minutes, until a very thick and rich sauce begins to form. 

• Add the soaked, drained chickpeas along with the parsley/cilantro bouquet and about 3quarts (or liters) of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes

First Steaming of the Couscous

• Drizzle 1/4 cup of oil over the couscous. Toss and roll the couscous around between your hands for a minute to distribute the oil evenly and break up any balls or clumps. 

  Add 1 cup of water and work it into the couscous in the same way--tossing and rubbing the couscous until all is well blended and there are no clumps. 

• Transfer the couscous to a lightly oiled steamer basket, taking care not to compress the grains in the process. Place the basket on the couscoussier and steam for 15 to 20 minutes, timing from when the steam first appears over the couscous.

Second Steaming of the Couscous

• Turn the couscous back into your gsaa or bowl. Allow it to cool briefly, then work in 1 cup of water, using the same tossing and turning as you did before. (You may need to use a wooden spoon if the couscous is too hot, but move to using your hands when it has cooled enough.)

• Add the salt in the same manner, then add in another 1 cup of water. Toss and roll and rub the couscous with your hands for a good minute or two, again making sure there are no balls. 

  Transfer the couscous back to the steamer basket, again taking care not to compress or pack the grains.

• Add the cabbage, onions, tomatoes (and fava beans, if using) to the couscous pot, then place the couscous basket on the couscoussier. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes, timing from when you first see steam emerge from the couscous.

Third and Final Steaming of the Couscous

• Turn the steamed couscous out into your gssaa or bowl. 

  Add the turnips and carrots to the pot; cover and allow them to cook for 15 minutes while you work with the couscous.

• In increments, work 2 to 3 cups of water or milk into the couscous in the same manner as before--tossing and turning and rubbing the grains between your hands and making sure there are no clumps. Use only as much water or milk as needed to make the couscous al dente.

• Taste the couscous for salt and add a little more if desired. Transfer half of the couscous to the steamer basket, again being careful not to pack the grains. 

• Add the remaining vegetables to the pot--the squash or pumpkin, the zucchini and the sweet potatoes if using. Top with a little water if the level has dropped below the vegetables. Taste and adjust seasoning--it should be well flavored, a bit salty and peppery.

• Place the couscous basket back on the pot and cook until steam begins to emerge from the couscous. Gently add the remaining couscous to the basket and continue cooking. Once you see steam rise from the couscous, allow it to steam for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until light and fluffy and the latest additions of vegetables have cooked.

Serving the Couscous

• Turn the couscous out into your bowl and work in the butter. 

  Add the smen (if using) to the broth in the pot and swirl to incorporate.

• Work about 1 cup of broth into the couscous, tossing as you did before. Arrange the couscous into a large, shallow mound in your gsaa or on a deep serving platter. Make a large indentation in the middle to hold the meat. 

• Retrieve the meat from the pot and place in the center of the couscous. Top it with the cabbage and squash or pumpkin. Retrieve the other vegetables from the broth with a slotted spoon and arrange all around meat (in pyramid fashion, if you like). Garnish with the chickpeas (and/or fava beans), chili peppers and even the bouquet of parsley if you like.

• Drizzle several cups of broth carefully over the couscous. Offer the remaining broth in bowls on the side.

• Tfaya is optional and can be used as a garnish or served on the side. 

Notes

• To make tfaya, combine all tfaya ingredients (except for the orange flower water) in a small pot. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until the onions and raisins are tender and liquids have reduced to a thick syrup, about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Stir occasionally, and add a small amount of water during cooking if it's needed. An optional last step is to add a little bit of orange flower water to taste. Serve warm.

• If you are using chicken, be sure to remove it from the pot once it has cooked. Check after the first steaming of couscous. Free-range chickens may or may not require the entire cooking time.

• You can reheat chicken for serving by adding it to the pot for a few minutes at the very end of cooking, but I prefer to brown it in a 425° F (220° C) oven.

• To make a vegetarian version of couscous with seven vegetables, omit the meat or chicken in the first step of making the broth. Follow the directions as written unless you are using canned chickpeas instead of dried, soaked ones. In that case, once a thick sauce has formed from the onions and tomatoes, you can add the water and proceed directly to the first steaming.

• If preparing vegetarian couscous, you may want to add additional oil to yield a richer broth. Olive oil adds flavor and I actually use it routinely when making couscous.

• In our house, it's all about the broth. I often increase seasoning and water by half to ensure that we have ample broth for serving on the side. You don't need to do that, but do be sure to top off the water and check seasoning from time to time while cooking. 

• Dried chickpeas that have been soaked overnight are preferred to canned. If you do use canned, drain and add them to the broth at the very end of cooking, after the final steaming of couscous. No need to simmer; they'll heat through while your're busy assembling the couscous for serving.

• A note about carrots. Many Moroccans insist on cutting them in half lengthwise to remove the core. I prefer not to do that unless the core is dry and woody. If you do take this step, the carrots will cook faster than if they contain the core and/or are left whole, so you may want to adjust when you add them to the pot. I'll leave small and medium carrots whole, for example, but I'll cut very large carrots in half.

• Steaming couscous is the only way couscous is made in Morocco. Be sure no steam is escaping between the steamer basket and pot. If it is, loosely wrap a long piece of folded plastic wrap over the rim of the pot and then position the steamer on top; the plastic film should create a snug seal.

• If you must use instant couscous, be sure to reconstitute it with broth from this recipe. Avoid making it soggy; it should be light and fluffy.

Enjoy! It is well worth the effort!