**Aromatic Couscous with Chickpeas and Carrots: A Delightful Fusion of Flavors**
Embark on a culinary journey to the vibrant streets of North Africa with our enticing couscous dish, featuring a symphony of flavors and textures. This wholesome meal, brimming with protein-packed chickpeas, crisp carrots, and tender couscous, is a delightful symphony of spices that will tantalize your taste buds. Discover the secrets of this delectable dish, as we guide you through each step of the preparation, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors in every bite. From the warm embrace of cumin and paprika to the subtle hint of cinnamon, each ingredient plays a harmonious role in creating a dish that is both satisfying and unforgettable. Let your kitchen come alive with the enticing aromas of this North African delicacy, as you embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving for more.
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* **Spinach and Feta Filo Rolls:** Indulge in the flaky goodness of filo pastry, filled with a delectable mixture of spinach, feta cheese, and aromatic herbs. Each bite of these crispy rolls offers a delightful burst of flavors, making them the perfect appetizer or snack to satisfy your cravings.
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COUSCOUS WITH CARROTS AND CURRANTS
Finish this light side dish with fresh cilantro and mint.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 25m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cinnamon and the lemon zest strips and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Add the broth, currants, carrots and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous. Remove from the heat, cover and set aside until the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 10 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork and stir in the cilantro and mint.
COUSCOUS WITH CARROTS AND RAISINS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 25m
Yield 6 cups, 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Put the carrots olive oil, butter, salt, cinnamon, ginger, in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the water and raisins to the carrots and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous, pull the saucepan off the heat, cover, and set aside until the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is plump and tender, about 10 minutes.
- When ready to serve, fluff the couscous with a fork.
CHEAT SHEET ROASTED VEGETABLE COUSCOUS
Provided by Food Network
Time 45m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Toss the broccoli florets, carrots, bell pepper and onion together with 2 tablespoons olive oil and some salt and pepper and spread out in an even layer on a sheet tray. Roast until the vegetables are softened slightly and browned, 15 to 18 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring the chicken stock to a boil in a small saucepot. Sprinkle the chickpeas and couscous in an even layer on top of the vegetables, drizzle with the remaining tablespoon oil and sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Pour the boiling stock over the top of the couscous and vegetables and cover with aluminum foil. Let sit until the couscous is cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the foil and fluff the couscous with a fork. Sprinkle with the red pepper flakes, drizzle lemon juice over the top and garnish with the mint leaves.
- To reheat the couscous before serving, cover with foil and place in a 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes.
ROASTED-VEGETABLE COUSCOUS BOWL
Yes, you can cook couscous in the oven! It's added to the sheet pan after the chickpeas, cauliflower, and carrots spiced with ras el hanout have roasted for a spell. Feta, cilantro, and a squeeze of lemon help bring all the flavors together.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees, with a rimmed baking sheet on center rack. Toss chickpeas, cauliflower, and carrots with oil and ras el hanout. Transfer to hot baking sheet with lemon halves, cut-sides up; season with salt and pepper. Roast until browned and mostly tender, 30 minutes. Remove from oven; reserve lemon.
- Reduce heat to 350 degrees. Add couscous, 2 cups boiling water, and 1 teaspoon salt to baking sheet; stir. Wearing oven mitts, cover sheet with parchment-lined foil, crimping tightly around edges; carefully return to oven. Cook until liquid is absorbed, 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool, covered, 5 minutes. Remove foil; squeeze reserved lemon over couscous and fluff with a fork. Top with feta, cilantro, and a drizzle of oil; serve.
COUSCOUS WITH CHICKEN AND CHICKPEAS
From Food and Wine magazine, posted for ZWT3. It's delicious, and my favorite recipe for chicken drumsticks (or thighs). "Served on a mound of couscous, with plenty of steaming broth poured over the top, the hearty Moroccan-inspired stew is a flavorful combination of chicken, chickpeas, vegetables, and spices."
Provided by Stephanie Z.
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 45m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large deep frying pan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over moderately high heat.
- Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Put the chicken in the pan and brown well, about 8 minutes in all.
- Remove. Pour off all but 1 tbsp of the fat. Reduce heat to moderately low.
- Add the onion and turnip and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, cumin, cayenne, and 2 1/4 tsp of the salt. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Stir in 4 cups of the water and the carrots.
- Add in the chicken and bring to a simmer.
- Cover and cook, stirring the mixture two or three times, until the chicken and vegetables are almost done, about 20 minutes.
- Stir in the chickpeas and parsley and simmer until the chicken and vegetables are done, about 5 minutes longer.
- Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the remaining 1/4 tsp salt and couscous.
- Cover. Remove the pot from the heat and let the couscous stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Serve the stew with its broth over the couscous.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 690.7, Fat 21.5, SaturatedFat 4.7, Cholesterol 118.3, Sodium 2322.2, Carbohydrate 80.4, Fiber 10.8, Sugar 5.6, Protein 42.6
COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS, SPINACH AND MINT
Spinach and chickpeas are a popular combination throughout the Mediterranean. This is one of my favorite couscous tagines. You can also use sturdier greens like chard. If you do use chard, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes rather than the 5 minutes required for spinach.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, main course
Time 25m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the spices. Stir together for about half a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and add the drained chickpeas, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add the tomato paste, the harissa and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender. Remove 1 cup of the broth to flavor the couscous.
- Reconstituting and steaming the couscous: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the couscous and salt to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the couscous and add the cup of broth you removed from the stew. Stir well, or moisten your fingers and rub the couscous with them to evenly distribute the oil and broth. Add enough water to cover by 1/2 inch and let sit for 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon or rub the couscous between your moistened thumbs and fingers, so that the couscous doesn't lump. The couscous will now be fairly soft; fluff it with a fork or with your hands. The traditional way to finish reconstituting the couscous is to place it above the simmering stew for 45 minutes. I find, however, that steaming it in a microwave results in perfectly fluffy couscous. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic and pierce the plastic with the tip of a paring knife. Heat at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully and allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plastic and fluff with forks or a spoon. Cover again with plastic and microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plastic as the couscous will be steamy. You can reconstitute the couscous a day ahead and reheat in the microwave shortly before serving.
- Shortly before serving, stir in the spinach and the mint. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. The stew should be spicy and flavorful. Serve the couscous in wide bowls or mound onto plates and top with the stew. Pass more harissa at the table.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 446, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 78 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 12 grams, Protein 20 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 504 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams
Tips:
- Choose the right couscous: There are two main types of couscous: Moroccan and Israeli. Moroccan couscous is smaller and cooks quickly, while Israeli couscous is larger and has a chewier texture. For this recipe, either type of couscous can be used.
- Use fresh vegetables: Fresh vegetables will give the couscous more flavor and nutrients. If you don't have fresh vegetables on hand, you can use frozen or canned vegetables in a pinch.
- Add some herbs and spices: Herbs and spices will help to flavor the couscous and make it more interesting. Some good options include cumin, coriander, paprika, and turmeric.
- Don't overcook the couscous: Couscous cooks quickly, so it's important to watch it carefully to avoid overcooking it. Overcooked couscous will be mushy and unpleasant to eat.
- Let the couscous rest before serving: After the couscous is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the couscous to absorb the flavors of the vegetables and spices.
Conclusion:
This recipe for couscous with chickpeas and carrots is a healthy, delicious, and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The couscous is cooked in a flavorful broth with chickpeas, carrots, and spices, and then served with a fresh herb sauce. This dish is a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins, and it can be easily customized to your liking.
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