COUSCOUS WITH BLACK-EYED PEAS AND GREENS

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil over medium heat in a heavy casserole or Dutch oven, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, ground spices and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir together for about a minute, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the black-eyed peas and three quarts water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, add salt to taste, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add the harissa (or cayenne) and the tomato paste, and cover and simmer another 15 to 30 minutes, until the beans are tender and fragrant. Strain off 1/2 cup of the liquid and set aside. 2. Stir in the greens a handful at a time, allowing each handful to cook down a bit before adding the next. Simmer 20 minutes, until the greens are very tender and fragrant. Stir in the parsley and/or cilantro, and simmer another five minutes. Remove from the heat. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding salt, garlic or harissa as desired. 3. Reconstitute and steam the couscous. 4. Transfer the couscous to a wide serving bowl or directly to wide soup plates. Spoon on the stew with a generous amount of broth and serve, passing additional harissa at the table. Yield: Serves six to eight Advance preparation: The beans can be cooked up to three days ahead, and the finished stew can be made a day or two ahead. You may want to add more liquid when you reheat.