Best 6 Basic Moroccan Couscous Recipes

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Embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Morocco with our authentic and flavorful Moroccan couscous recipes. Discover the delightful combination of fluffy couscous, succulent meats, aromatic vegetables, and a symphony of spices that will tantalize your taste buds. In this collection, we present three distinct couscous dishes that showcase the diverse culinary heritage of Morocco:

1. **Classic Moroccan Couscous with Chicken:** This traditional recipe forms the cornerstone of Moroccan cuisine, featuring tender chicken infused with the warmth of Moroccan spices, nestled atop a bed of fluffy couscous. Vibrant vegetables, such as carrots, turnips, and zucchini, add a colorful and nutritious touch, while the fragrant broth brings the dish together in perfect harmony.

2. **Moroccan Lamb Couscous:** Experience the richness and depth of Moroccan flavors with this lamb couscous. Succulent lamb pieces are slow-cooked in a tantalizing blend of spices, creating a tender and flavorful experience. Dried fruits, such as apricots and raisins, add a touch of sweetness and textural contrast, while almonds and chickpeas provide a delightful crunch.

3. **Vegetarian Moroccan Couscous:** Delight in a vibrant and colorful vegetarian couscous, perfect for those seeking a meatless yet satisfying meal. A medley of fresh vegetables, including bell peppers, zucchini, and carrots, is sautéed in a fragrant blend of spices, creating a symphony of flavors. Chickpeas and lentils add a boost of protein and texture, while the tangy lemon-herb sauce adds a refreshing touch.

Let's cook with our recipes!

EASY, MOROCCAN COUSCOUS RECIPE



Easy, Moroccan Couscous Recipe image

This Moroccan couscous recipe is a simplified, vegan version of the traditional dish, filled with sweet raisins, crunchy almonds and herbs. It might not be authentic, but it makes for an easy, flavorful side dish. Serve it warm with roasted vegetables or your favorite protein.

Provided by Melissa Belanger

Categories     Side Dish

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups couscous
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup toasted, sliced almonds
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Heat a large saucepan to medium-high. Add olive oil, onion, garlic and spices. Sauté until the onions are translucent, stirring occasionally - about 5 minutes.
  • Add broth. Cover the pot and bring to a boil.
  • Remove from heat stir in couscous. Let sit for 10 minutes, or until the couscous has absorbed the broth.
  • Stir in raisins, almonds and parsley before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 230 calories, Sugar 4.6 g, Sodium 356.5 mg, Fat 8.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 33.6 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 6.4 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS



Moroccan Couscous image

This easy Moroccan couscous recipe with raisins and pinenuts is a fast, flavorful, versatile side dish to serve with chicken or lamb.

Provided by Erin Clarke / Well Plated

Categories     Side Dish

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/4 cup pine nuts (or swap pistachios or slivered almonds)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (use coconut oil or vegan butter to make vegan)
1 small shallot (chopped)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
1 cup whole wheat couscous
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil (use the good stuff here!)

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.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 (of 6), Calories 272 kcal, Carbohydrate 42 g, Protein 7 g, Fat 11 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 6 g, UnsaturatedFat 6 g

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS



Moroccan Couscous image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     side-dish

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon white peppercorns
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon whole allspice
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
2 cardamom pods
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Large pinch of saffron (optional)
2 1/4 cups (12 ounces) whole-wheat couscous
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, warmed
1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Steps:

  • Make the spice blend: Toast the cinnamon stick, both peppercorns, cumin, coriander, allspice, cloves and cardamom in a small dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, 2 minutes; let cool. Grind in a spice grinder or mini food processor with the ginger, turmeric, cayenne, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon salt. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks; use leftover spice blend as a rub for meat or fish.
  • Make the couscous: Heat the butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons spice blend and the saffron, if desired, in a large skillet over medium-high heat until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Add the couscous and stir until toasted, about 1 minute. Stir in the warm broth, remove from the heat, cover and set aside until the couscous is plump, about 7 minutes. Add the lemon juice and fluff with a fork. Transfer to a bowl and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon spice blend.

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS



Moroccan Couscous image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     side-dish

Time 20m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup chopped shallots
3 cups Homemade Chicken Stock, recipe follows, or canned broth
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups couscous
1/2 cup pignoli nuts, toasted
1/4 cup currants
3 (5-pound) chickens
3 large onions, unpeeled and quartered
6 carrots, unpeeled and halved
4 celery stalks with leaves, cut in thirds
4 parsnips, unpeeled and cut in 1/2, optional
20 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
15 sprigs fresh thyme
20 sprigs fresh dill
1 head garlic, unpeeled and cut in 1/2 crosswise
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

Steps:

  • Melt the butter in a large saute pan, add the shallots and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Add the chicken stock, salt and pepper, raise the heat to high and bring the stock to a boil. Off the heat and add the couscous. Cover the pan and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  • Add the pignoli nuts and currants to the couscous, stir and serve.
  • Place the chickens, onions, carrots, celery, parsnips, parsley, thyme, dill, garlic, salt, and peppercorns in a 16 to 20-quart stockpot with 7 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Skim the surface as needed. Simmer uncovered for 4 hours. Strain the entire contents of the pot through a colander, discarding the chicken and vegetables, and chill. Discard the hardened fat, and then pack the broth in quart containers.

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS



Moroccan Couscous image

This dish is great served with my Lamb Tagine and Cucumber Raita also on this site.

Provided by BenevolentEmpress

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Squash     Summer Squash

Time 55m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 ¼ teaspoons ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
1 red, green, or yellow bell pepper, cut into 1" pieces
2 zucchinis, halved lengthwise and cut into 3/4 inch pieces
½ cup golden raisins
1 teaspoon kosher salt
grated zest of one orange
1 (14.5 ounce) can low sodium garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 ½ cups chicken broth
½ cup orange juice
1 ½ cups couscous
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Steps:

  • Place a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Stir in the cumin, ginger, cloves, cayenne, cardamom, coriander, and allspice; gently toast until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in oil and onion, cook until softened. Stir in the bell pepper, and zucchini; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the raisins, salt, zest, and garbanzos.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and orange juice; turn heat to high and bring to a boil. When the mixture is boiling, stir in the couscous and remove from heat; cover, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, and fold in chopped mint.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 245.6 calories, Carbohydrate 48.1 g, Fat 2.6 g, Fiber 5.2 g, Protein 8.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.3 g, Sodium 263.3 mg, Sugar 9.6 g

MOROCCAN STYLE COUSCOUS



Moroccan Style Couscous image

This is my version of the couscous dish served at our local Moroccan restaurant. I used more chicken because I wanted it to be a one-dish meal, and I added dried currants because it just seemed at the time to be the right thing to do. And it was.

Provided by Patty Mae

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 medium onion, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breasts
2 1/4 cups chicken broth
3 medium carrots, sliced 1/4-inch thick
2 medium potatoes, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup canned chick-peas, drained
1/2 cup dried currant
2 cups uncooked couscous

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Add onions and saute until translucent.
  • Add garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, cumin, and salt. Cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
  • Add chicken, chicken broth, potatoes, carrots, currants, and chickpeas.
  • Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until carrots and potatoes are tender.
  • Return to a boil, add couscous, and stir well.
  • Cover, remove from heat, and let sit for about ten minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 819.7, Fat 18.2, SaturatedFat 3.4, Cholesterol 58.8, Sodium 1872.3, Carbohydrate 122.3, Fiber 13.1, Sugar 16.7, Protein 41.6

Tips:

  • Use high-quality couscous: Look for couscous made from durum wheat semolina, as it has a better texture and flavor.
  • Measure the water carefully: The amount of water you use is crucial for the texture of the couscous. Use a measuring cup to ensure accuracy.
  • Use aromatic broth: Instead of plain water, use a flavorful broth such as vegetable, chicken, or beef broth to enhance the taste of the couscous.
  • Fluff the couscous properly: After the couscous has cooked, use a fork to fluff it up gently to separate the grains and prevent clumping.
  • Add vegetables and spices: Customize your couscous by adding vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or bell peppers. Experiment with different spices like cumin, paprika, or turmeric to create a unique flavor profile.
  • Serve with a flavorful sauce: Serve your couscous with a flavorful sauce or stew. Some popular options include tomato sauce, lamb stew, or vegetable tagine.

Conclusion:

Moroccan couscous is a versatile and delicious dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or side dish. With its fluffy texture, nutty flavor, and endless possibilities for customization, it's a dish that will please everyone at the table. Experiment with different ingredients and flavors to create your own unique version of this classic Moroccan dish.

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