Embark on a tantalizing culinary journey to the heart of North African cuisine with our Grilled Merguez with Herbed Couscous. This delectable dish, bursting with bold flavors and aromatic spices, is a delightful fusion of grilled merguez sausages, fluffy couscous, and a vibrant medley of herbs and vegetables.
Savor the smoky, slightly spicy notes of the grilled merguez sausages, expertly seasoned with a blend of North African spices. These succulent sausages, made from a mixture of lamb and beef, are grilled to perfection, achieving a crispy outer layer and a juicy, flavorful interior.
Complementing the merguez are two distinct couscous preparations. The traditional Herbed Couscous is a fluffy, golden-hued delight, infused with the aromatic flavors of fresh herbs, including parsley, cilantro, and mint. Its light and airy texture provides a delicate contrast to the robust flavors of the grilled sausages.
For those seeking a more substantial side, the Spiced Carrot and Chickpea Couscous is an irresistible choice. This vibrant dish features tender carrots, chickpeas, and a medley of spices, all harmoniously combined with fluffy couscous. The sweetness of the carrots and the nutty flavor of the chickpeas add a delightful dimension to the overall taste experience.
Whether you prefer the classic Herbed Couscous or the flavorful Spiced Carrot and Chickpea Couscous, both recipes promise an authentic North African culinary adventure. Grilled Merguez with Herbed Couscous is a feast for the senses, capturing the essence of North African cuisine with its vibrant flavors, aromatic spices, and the perfect balance of textures.
GRILLED HARISSA CHICKEN BREASTS WITH HERBED COUSCOUS
I think we are all searching for that perfect dish that's flavorful but still virtuous. This is that dish. The flavors of North Africa might sound far away but the blend of spices, like cinnamon and cumin, are familiar. It's a lot like Asian food with balancing the 5 flavors of hot, sour, salty, sweet and savory. You can also grill the chicken indoors, bake it or even air-fry it. The herbed couscous can live on its own and be the perfect accompaniment to any dish!
Provided by Jet Tila
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Combine the garlic, paprika, onion powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and stir.
- Put the chicken breast in a large resealable plastic bag, then add the spice blend. Seal the bag and massage to coat the chicken with the seasoning. If time allows, let marinate for a few minutes at room temperature or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
- When ready to grill, preheat one side of the grill to high, leaving the other side cool to create indirect heating.
- Pour the olive oil into the resealable bag and massage to coat the chicken. Remove the chicken from bag, and place on the hot side of the grill. Grill, undisturbed, until you get char marks, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the chicken a quarter turn and grill, undisturbed, to achieve a crosshatch sear mark, about 2 minutes. Flip and repeat the process on the other side.
- Once you have great char on both sides, baste the chicken with a generous amount of the harissa and move the chicken to the cool side of the grill. Close the lid and cook the chicken, checking every 2 to 3 minutes for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Slice on the bias and serve with the herbed couscous.
- Heat the butter in a lidded medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic. Add the chicken stock, stir and bring to boil. Add the couscous and stir.
- Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the herbs. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
PEARL COUSCOUS SALAD WITH MERGUEZ AND GRILLED BELL PEPPERS
Merguez sausages originated in North Africa and are typically made of lamb or beef and spiced with chiles that give the sausage its notable red color. If you can't find merguez sausage, add about 1/4 teaspoon each of ground cumin, ground coriander, and paprika to the dressing, to help replicate some of its flavors.
Time 40m
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add couscous and cook, stirring frequently, until toasted, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in 1 3/4 cup water and 1/4 teaspoon salt and bring to a simmer.
- Cover and simmer until water is absorbed and couscous is just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
- While couscous cooks, whisk together lemon zest, juice, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.
- Remove 2 tablespoons dressing and set aside for basting.
- Prepare a grill for medium heat cooking.
- Grill sausages and peppers, basting with the reserved 2 tablespoons dressing and turning frequently until browned and cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Slice sausage into 1/2-inch-thick rounds and peppers into bite-size pieces. Put in a bowl with couscous.
- Toss with olive oil-lemon dressing and parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 610 calories, Fat 50 grams, SaturatedFat 11 grams, Cholesterol 40 milligrams, Sodium 960 milligrams, Carbohydrate 26 grams, Protein 17 grams
GRILLED MERGUEZ AND ONIONS WITH MINT-LEMON COUSCOUS
In this summery salad, spicy merguez are grilled until seared, then served over a mound of couscous and vegetables that have been seasoned with herbs, cumin and plenty of lemon. Red onions wedges, grilled on one side only, are charred and caramelized in some parts while staying crisp and pungent in others. If you can't get merguez (which are traditional North African sausages made from lamb, beef or a combination of both), you can substitute any other spicy sausages. Choose something with a bite to contrast with the juicy sweetness of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Note that those without grill access can easily use the broiler here.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories weekday, grains and rice, sausages, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Make the couscous: In a medium, heat-resistant bowl, combine boiling water, couscous and 1 teaspoon salt, and cover with a plate or lid. Let sit until the water is absorbed, 7 to 12 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
- Meanwhile, light the grill to medium-high or heat your broiler with the rack 3 inches from the heat source.
- Halve lemons crosswise and then squeeze the juice from one half into a large bowl. Add cumin, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Slowly whisk in 1/3 cup olive oil. Stir in radishes and set aside to marinate.
- Place onion wedges and remaining 3 lemon halves, cut-side down, in a grill basket and grill until charred on one side only, 2 to 4 minutes. Or place on a sheet pan and broil until charred, 5 minutes. Transfer onions and lemons to a cutting board.
- Either on the grill, or on the same sheet pan as you used for the onions, grill or broil merguez until browned all over, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer sausages to a cutting board and cover with foil to keep warm while you assemble the salad.
- When onion is cool enough to handle, dice it and add to radishes. Fold in couscous, tomatoes, 1/2 cup mint, 1/2 cup parsley, cucumbers, nuts and a large pinch of salt. Squeeze the juice from a charred lemon half into the bowl. Taste and add more salt and lemon, if needed. Slice merguez on a bias into 1/2-inch pieces.
- To serve, spoon couscous salad onto a platter, then top with sausages and any accumulated juices. Garnish with remaining herbs and a big drizzle of olive oil, and serve with remaining charred lemon halves on the side for more squeezing.
GRILLED VEGETABLES WITH COUSCOUS AND YOGURT SAUCE
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat a grill pan over high heat. Toss the bell peppers, squash, mushrooms, garlic, herbs, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Brush the onion rounds with olive oil and season with salt. Brush the grill pan with olive oil, then grill the bell pepper mixture and onion rounds (in batches if needed), turning, until tender and marked, about 10 minutes. Peel the garlic.
- Meanwhile, cook the couscous as the label directs.
- Pulse the garlic, 2 pieces grilled bell pepper and the yogurt in a mini food processor or blender until smooth. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Cut the remaining grilled bell peppers into chunks and toss with the squash, mushrooms, herbs and onion in a large bowl; season with salt.
- Fluff the couscous with a fork and divide among bowls. Top with the vegetables and almonds and serve with the yogurt sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 473, Fat 16 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Cholesterol 2 milligrams, Sodium 616 milligrams, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fiber 12 grams, Protein 17 grams
HOMEMADE MERGUEZ
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, main course
Time 15m
Yield About 1 pound of sausages
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a small skillet over medium-low heat, toast cumin, coriander and fennel seeds until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer warm spices to a spice grinder and grind well, or use a mortar and pestle and pound seeds.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Form lamb mixture into desired shape (1-inch-thick by 5-inch-long cigars make nice merguez, but fatter cylinders or patties will also work). Chill for up to 5 days, freeze for up to 3 months, or use immediately.
- Brush sausages with oil and grill or broil them until browned and cooked through. Or fry them in a little oil until well browned all over. Serve with more cilantro and harissa on the side, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 228, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 13 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 185 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams
SPICY MERGUEZ & COUSCOUS POT
Pack up this spicy sausage stew as part of a hearty lunch - simply heat in the microwave for a filling midday meal
Provided by Cassie Best
Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Supper
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a pan. Squeeze the sausagemeat from the skins and shape into 8 meatballs. Add them to the pan and sizzle on a medium-high heat for 5-10 mins, rolling around the pan, until they are cooked. Set aside.
- Drain the fat from the pan, leaving 1 tbsp behind. Reduce the heat and add the lemon, onion, chilli and pepper. Stir for 5 mins. Add the ras el hanout and stir for 1 min more.
- Add the tomatoes and 300ml water, and crumble in the stock cube. Return the meatballs to the pan and simmer, covered with a lid, for 10-15 mins, until the sauce is rich and the veg are tender. Season and stir in the coriander. Transfer to 2 microwavable containers with tight-fitting lids, and chill until you're ready to eat. Weigh 50g couscous into 2 sandwich bags to take to work too.
- When you're ready to eat, add the couscous to the cold sauce. Stir well and microwave for 3 mins, until the couscous is cooked through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 552 calories, Fat 26 grams fat, SaturatedFat 10 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 49 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 16 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 27 grams protein, Sodium 3.9 milligram of sodium
MERGUEZ AND LAMB COUSCOUS
Provided by Bryan Miller
Categories dinner, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Place lamb in a deep kettle (preferably one with a steamer attachment on top). Add onions, rutabaga and fennel. Season with salt, and add 4 quarts cold water (it should cover the ingredients), black pepper and ginger.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place couscous in a large bowl, and cover with cold water. Mix thoroughly with your hands to break up lumps. Transfer couscous to a steamer attachment with fine holes (if you do not have one, try a colander), and drain the couscous into a separate bowl. Then, transfer couscous to the original large mixing bowl, and let sit 15 minutes.
- Break up the couscous again with your hands, and return it to the steamer or colander. Place the steamer over the simmering lamb and vegetables. Cover and let steam for about 15 minutes.
- Return couscous to a large bowl and, when it is cool, grease your hands with the olive oil and mix the grains thoroughly, breaking up any lumps. Do this several times, adding more oil.
- Return couscous to steamer, and place over simmering meat and vegetable liquid, covered.
- When meat has cooked for 45 minutes, add carrots, raisins, chickpeas and merguez. Taste broth for seasoning. Add more pepper if necessary (withhold salt until the end). Simmer for another 20 minutes. (At this point the stew may be set aside to cool, scraped of any surface fat, and reheated before serving. Place couscous in a large bowl and cover with a damp towel.)
- When ready for final cooking, place stew over a medium-low flame. Place a couscous-filled steamer on top, covered. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Taste for seasonings before serving.
- Place a mound of couscous on a warm plate. Cover with meat, vegetables and broth. Serve with hot sauce, like Tabasco, on the side.
Tips:
- Choose fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your dish.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices and herbs. There are endless possibilities, so find what you like best.
- Make sure your grill is hot before you start cooking. This will help to prevent the merguez from sticking.
- Cook the merguez until it is cooked through, but not overcooked. Overcooked merguez will be tough and dry.
- Serve the merguez with your favorite sides, such as herbed couscous, grilled vegetables, or a simple salad.
Conclusion:
Grilled merguez with herbed couscous is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a summer cookout. The merguez is flavorful and juicy, while the herbed couscous is light and fluffy. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love