Best 20 Spiced Couscous Recipes

SPICED COUSCOUS WITH RAISINS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups hot water and raisins in small bowl. Soak raisins until softened, about 15 minutes. Drain water into large saucepan; reserve raisins. Add 2 tablespoons butter, wine, and saffron to pan; bring to boil. Stir in couscous. Cover, remove from heat, and let stand until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; cover and cook until translucent and tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix onion, reserved raisins, almonds, and cinnamon into couscous. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

COUSCOUS WITH SPICED ALMONDS

Steps:

• To prepare the almonds, heat the butter in a saute pan over medium heat until it is melted and bubbling. Add the almonds, cumin, turmeric, coriander, paprika, and salt. Saute until the almonds start to brown and the spices smell very fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool.
• To prepare the couscous, heat the stock in a saucepan over high heat until boiling, then season with salt and pepper. Place the couscous in a large bowl, pour the hot stock over the couscous, and cover with foil. Let stand until the stock is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, coarsely chop the cooled almonds. When the couscous has absorbed the stock, fluff with a fork, add the almonds, and mix well. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPICED COUSCOUS AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the ginger, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the carrots and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain the carrots, reserving the cooking liquid.
• Put the couscous and chicken in a medium bowl; pour 1 cup of the hot cooking liquid on top. Stir, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds, raisins, scallions and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until the nuts are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cilantro.
• Divide the couscous and chicken among bowls. Top with the carrots and more of the cooking liquid. Sprinkle with the almond mixture and more cilantro. Top with yogurt and/or harissa.
• Per serving: Calories 441; Fat 20 g (Saturated 7 g); Cholesterol 91 mg; Sodium 853 mg; Carbohydrate 42 g; Fiber 8 g; Protein 28 g

SPICED COUSCOUS WITH RAISINS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups hot water and raisins in small bowl. Soak raisins until softened, about 15 minutes. Drain water into large saucepan; reserve raisins. Add 2 tablespoons butter, wine, and saffron to pan; bring to boil. Stir in couscous. Cover, remove from heat, and let stand until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; cover and cook until translucent and tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix onion, reserved raisins, almonds, and cinnamon into couscous. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

GRILLED MOROCCAN SPICED CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH COUSCOUS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In small bowl, place couscous; set aside.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat broth, butter, coriander, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the turmeric to boiling.
• Pour hot broth over couscous, stir well and cover with foil. Let stand 5 minutes to allow liquid to be absorbed. Uncover and fluff couscous with fork. Stir in lemon peel, lemon juice, cranberries, pine nuts and pepper sauce; set aside.
• Meanwhile, place 1 chicken breast on work surface. Notice it has a thick end and a thin end. To create a pocket for the stuffing, insert long, thin knife (a boning knife is ideal) into middle of thick end, parallel to work surface. Slide knife in until it reaches middle of chicken. Move knife up and down within the chicken to form a pocket. You want to have a smaller opening where knife entered the chicken and a larger pocket within the chicken to stuff with couscous mixture. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.
• Spray grill rack with cooking spray or brush with oil. Heat coals or gas grill for medium heat. (Check the temperature of the coals by placing your hand, palm side down, near but not touching the cooking grill rack. If you can keep your hand there for two seconds [one-thousand one, one-thousand two], the temperature is high; three seconds is medium-high; four seconds is medium; five seconds is low.)
• Use one hand to hold chicken with thick end up. With other hand, stuff 1/4 cup of the couscous into pocket. Repeat with remaining chicken. Brush chicken with oil.
• In small bowl, mix 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin and the pepper. Sprinkle mixture evenly over chicken breasts.
• Grill chicken covered 15 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally, until juice of chicken is no longer pink when center of thickest part is cut (170°F) and stuffing is hot. To serve, slice each breast and layer on plate so stuffing is visible.

COUSCOUS WITH SPICED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Bring broth with 1/4 teaspoon salt just to a boil in a small saucepan, then pour over couscous in a bowl and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion with 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add zucchini and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to moderately low, then stir in coriander, chili powder, cumin, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, 2 minutes. Gently stir zucchini mixture into couscous and cool to warm or room temperature. Just before serving, stir in mint and lemon juice.

SPICED LAMB CHOPS ON SAUTEED PEPPERS AND ONIONS WITH GARLIC AND MINT COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Cover the chops with waxed paper or plastic and whack each chop with the heel of your palm to flatten it out. Season chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Combine cumin, coriander and paprika and sprinkle the mixture evenly over chops. Pat the spices in place and wash up. Let chops stand 15 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add peppers and onions. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper and cook together 5 minutes, then add grape tomatoes and continue to cook until skins begin to burst on tomatoes. Add half the flat-leaf parsley to the skillet and toss. Transfer vegetables to a platter and cover with loose foil to hold heat.
• Place a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil in a small pot for couscous, just eyeball the amount. Heat oil over medium heat and add garlic. Saute garlic 1 minute then add the pine nuts to toast a little. Add chicken stock to the pot and bring it up to a boil. Add couscous, remove from heat, and cover the pot. Let stand for 5 minutes.
• Return skillet to stove and add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, a turn of the pan. Add lamb chops to skillet and sear 2 to 3 minutes on each side for medium rare, cook 4 minutes on each side for medium well chops. Place chops on top of the peppers and onions.
• Fluff couscous with a fork and stir in mint and the remaining parsley. Pass couscous at the table. It makes a nice bed for the veggies and lamb to catch all the juices.

SPICED BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and spices and cook until the cinnamon stick unfurls and the tomatoes are cooked down, about 3 minutes. Add the squash, chickpeas, broth, lemon zest, and raisins and bring to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, until the squash is fork tender, about 25 minutes. Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice and season, to taste.
• Meanwhile, make the couscous. Bring the broth to a boil with the salt and pepper in a small saucepan. Stir in the couscous, pull the saucepan off the heat, cover, and set aside until the water has been absorbed and the couscous is plump, about 5 minutes.
• Fluff the couscous with a fork and mound it in 4 soup bowls. Spoon some butternut squash stew over each portion, top with almonds, and serve.

MOROCCAN-SPICED COUSCOUS WITH SCRAMBLED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ras el hanout and toast, stirring, 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and remove from the heat. Let sit until the couscous is tender, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and heavy cream in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Whisk 1 tablespoon lime juice and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium bowl; add the cilantro and cucumber and season with salt and pepper. Whisk the yogurt and remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lime juice in a separate bowl; season with salt.
• Fluff the couscous with a fork and return to medium heat. Add the egg mixture and gently stir with a rubber spatula, bringing the eggs and couscous from the sides to the center of the skillet. Cook, stirring, until no longer wet and the egg starts to stick to the bottom of the pan, about 7 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the couscous and eggs among shallow bowls. Drizzle with the yogurt and top with the cucumber salad.

SPICED BEEF PATTIES WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Mix first 9 ingredients in medium bowl to blend well. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• For each patty, shape 1/4 cup mixture into 3/4-inch-thick round. Heat heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add patties to skillet and cook to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare.
• Mound couscous in center of platter and surround with patties. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

SPICED PORK CHOP WITH ISRAELI COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium; add garlic, and cook, stirring, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add couscous and raisins; cook, stirring, until couscous is lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook until liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, season pork with paprika, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. In a small nonstick skillet, heat remaining teaspoon oil over medium-low. Cook pork until browned and interior is opaque throughout, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• Remove couscous from heat; stir in broccoli, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper; let stand, covered, until broccoli is warmed through, 2 minutes. Serve pork with couscous.

SPICED PEARL COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until tender. Add couscous; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until couscous is lightly browned., Add water, salt, cinnamon, curry powder, cumin and coriander; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 7-10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender. Stir in currants, cilantro, mint and lemon zest; let stand 5 minutes Fluff with a fork. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts. If desired, serve with lemon wedges.

SPICED COUSCOUS WITH SHRIMP AND CHERMOULA

Steps:

• For the Spice Blend, mix all ingredients in small bowl. Set aside.
• For the Chermoula, place cilantro, garlic and lemon juice in blender container; cover. Blend until almost smooth. Gradually add oil with machine running. Blend until smooth. Mix in 1 1/4 teaspoons of the Spice Blend. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
• For the Couscous, bring water to boil in small saucepan. Stir in remaining ingredients and another 1 1/4 teaspoons of the Spice Blend. Cover. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• For the Shrimp, toss shrimp with remaining Spice Blend in medium bowl until evenly coated. Heat oil in medium skillet on high heat. Add shrimp; cook 1 minute per side or just until shrimp turn pink.
• To serve, spoon Chermoula into serving bowl. Top with couscous and shrimp. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

MOROCCAN-SPICED PORK CHOPS & FRUITY COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, tomato paste, cumin, coriander, hot pepper sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a resealable plastic bag. Add pork loin chops to the bag; seal and shake until well-coated. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated pork loin chops and cook until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.
• Bring chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous, dried apricots, green onions, turmeric, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Turn heat to low; cover and let simmer until liquid has been absorbed, 5 to 7 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and stir in cilantro.

SPICED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Toast and chop cashews or pistachios.
• Melt 1/4 c butter in medium saucepan over low heat.
• Add spices and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add stock and currants.
• Can be prepared 4 hours ahead, bring to boil.
• Mix in couscous and 2 tbsps.
• butter.
• Cover and remove from heat.
• Let stand 5 minutes.
• Fluff with fork; season with salt.
• Transfer couscous to bowl, add nuts and toss well.

COUSCOUS WITH SPICED RED SAUCE, CHICKPEAS, AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place couscous in a small bowl. Cover with 1 cup boiling water. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; let couscous sit 10 minutes to soften. Fluff with a fork, and set aside.
• Heat sauce, cinnamon, and cumin in a saucepan over medium heat. Add chickpeas, raisins, and almonds, and heat until hot. Season with salt and pepper. Serve couscous topped with sauce, and garnish with parsley, if using.

COUSCOUS & ROASTED SPICED CHICKPEAS & PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Combine first seven ingredients (1 tablespoon oil) and mix thoroughly.
• Place on parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 minutes shaking pan as needed till crispy.
• Combine the couscous of your choice as directed on the package.
• Combine remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, mint, and shake well.
• Add arugula or spinach to the hot couscous.
• Mix the vinaigrette with the couscous mixture.
• Divide among bowls,.
• Sprinkle on the chick peas over top and also the pine nuts.
• Enjoy!

SPICED CHICKEN COUSCOUS WITH CINNAMON ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and stir to coat. Season with salt. Sauté 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are very soft, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in sugar and cinnamon; sauté until onions are brown, about 5 minutes. (Cinnamon onions can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Coarsely puree quartered onion, lemon juice, cumin, ginger, and paprika in blender. Pour into heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Add chicken; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate chicken for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in another large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken with marinade; cook until chicken is brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Add tomatoes with juices and broth to skillet; boil until sauce thickens, about 6 minutes. Return chicken to skillet; spoon sauce over. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate and tent with foil. Boil sauce until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Rewarm cinnamon onions. Mound couscous on 4 plates. Top with chicken, sauce, and onions and serve.

SHISH HOLD-THE-KABOB: SPICED LAMB CHOPS ON SAUTEED PEPPERS AND ONIONS WITH GARLIC AND MINT COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Cover the chops with wax paper or plastic and whack each chop with the heel of your palm to flatten it out. Season chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Combine cumin, coriander and paprika and sprinkle the mixture evenly over chops. Pat the spices in place and wash up. Let chops stand 15 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add peppers and onions. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper and cook together 5 minutes, then add grape tomatoes and continue to cook until skins begin to burst on tomatoes. Add half the flat leaf parsley to the skillet and toss. Transfer vegetables to a platter and cover with loose foil to hold heat.
• Place a tablespoon of oil in a small saucepan for couscous, just eyeball the amount. Heat oil over medium heat and add garlic. Sautee garlic 1 minute then add chicken stock and bring it up to a boil. Add couscous and cover the pot. Let stand for 5 minutes. Over medium-low heat toast the pinenuts in a small pan until they begin to give off their aroma, stirring them frequently to prevent them from burning.
• Return skillet to stove and add another tablespoon EVOO, a turn of the pan. Add lamb chops to skillet and sear 2 to 3 minutes on each side for medium rare, cook 4 minutes on each side for medium-well chops. Place chops on top of the peppers and onions.
• Fluff couscous with a fork and stir in the raisins, mint, remaining parsley and the pine nuts. Pass couscous at table. It makes a nice bed for the veggies and lamb to catch all the juices.

COUSCOUS WITH SPICED CHICKPEAS AND FIGS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, spice mix and some salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until soft.
• Stir in chickpeas, tomato and stock. Bring to the boil, then cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the zucchini, beans and figs and cook for a further 5-8 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, place the couscous in a large heatproof bowl and pour over 2 cups boiling water.
• Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel. Set aside for 5 minutes, then fluff up with a fork.
• Divide couscous and vegetables among plates, garnish with coriander then serve with harissa, if desired.
• For Moroccan spice mix, these are sold commercially or you can mix your own with the above ingredients.