Couscous W Moroccan Lamb Brothglazed Onions Fried Almonds Recipes

COUSCOUS W/ MOROCCAN LAMB BROTH,GLAZED ONIONS& FRIED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Couscous: Place couscous in a fine strainer and rinse under cold running waterDump couscous into large bowl and let stand until grins swell, about 10 minutes. Break up lumps with your fingers.
• Fill a large steamer pot or stockpot with water. Set up steamer making sure there are 4 inches between simmering water and steamer basket. Carefully pour couscous into steamer or colander. Steam couscous, uncovered, over simmering water for 15 minutes.
• Pour couscous onto large, rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with 1 cup cold water and salt; use long fork or oiled hands to spread couscous and break up any lumps. Set aside for at least 5 minutes. (Couscous can be covered with paper towels and stored at room temperature up to 8 hours.).
• Add water to pot, making sure there is enough room between simmering water and steamer bottom. Carefully pour couscous into perforated steamer or colander; steam couscous, uncovered, over simmering water for 20 minutes.
• Moroccan Lamb Broth with Chickpeas and Vegetables:
• Bring chickpeas and 7 cups water to simmer in medium saucepan. Simmer, covered, until chickpeas are just tender, about 1 hour. Drain chickpeas, then pour into bowl of cold water. Gently rub chickpeas between fingers to remove skins. Discard skins, drain chickpeas, and set aside.
• Place lamb, salt, pepper, ginger, saffron, onions, parsley and cilantro, and butter in soup kettle. Melt butter over low heat, swirling pan once or twice to let spices and meat mix gently. Add 3 quarts of water and bring to a simmer. Add chickpeas; cover, and simmer until meat is tender, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Cool lamb broth, skimming fat that rises to the surface. Remove 2 cups of broth and strain it; reserve for glazed onion topping. Remove and discard herb bundle. Remove shanks and separate meat from bone; return meat to broth. (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 days.).
• About 30 minutes before serving, bring lamb broth to simmer. Add carrots, turnips, pumpkin, and zucchini. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Adjust seasonings. Remove another 3 cups of broth and strain it; reserve for moistening couscous. (There will be only a little broth left in meat and vegetables at this point.)
• Glazed Onions with Raisins:.
• Bring broth to boil in saucepan. Add remaining ingredients, including salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover and simmer until liquid boils away and onions have glazed appearance, 30 to 45 minutes. (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 days.) Warm before serving.
• Fried Almonds: Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add almonds; fry until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels and set aside. (Can be stored in airtight container up to 2 days.).
• To Assemble: Prepare Steamed Couscous, Moroccan Lamb Broth with Chickpeas and Vegetables, Glazed Onions with Raisins, and Fried Almonds as described above. Pour couscous onto large flat serving dish with sloping sides and toss with butter. Use fork to smooth out any remaining lumps. Form couscous into a large ring, leaving a small opening in the center for meat. Pour 3 cups reserved broth over couscous. Cover, and let stand 10 minutes.
• Remove meat from broth and place in center opening. Scatter vegetables over couscous . Spread glazed onions over meat and vegetables, then sprinkle with almonds. Serve immediately. (Leftovers can be stored in covered container and refrigerated up to 2 days. Reheat individual portions in microwave.).

MOROCCAN VEGETABLE COUSCOUS WITH LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• In a saucepan cover chickpeas with water and cook, covered, until tender.
• Drain, cool and remove skins.
• In bottom of a Couscoussier (or double stock pot w/steamer), preheat 5 tablespoons of butter and oil over medium heat until hot.
• Add lamb, salt, spices, onions, herb sprigs and tomatoes; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.
• Add 3 quarts water and chickpeas; cover and simmer over low heat, 1 1/2 hours.
• Cut meat into chunks, discarding bones.
• Add carrots, turnips and quince to lamb broth and simmer 30 minutes.
• In a separate saucepan cover squash with broth from lamb stew and simmer until tender.
• To lamb broth add zucchini, chili pepper, and raisins.
• Top with colander containing couscous, cover and steam 20 minutes.
• Dot couscous with remaining butter during last 5 minutes of steaming.
• To serve, spoon couscous onto serving dish and toss with Ghee*, Smen** or butter.
• Spread out to form a large well in center.
• With a slotted spoon transfer meat and vegetables into well.
• Add drained squash.
• Strain broth, adjust seasoning to taste and moisten couscous and vegetables with broth.

MOROCCAN BRAISED LAMB WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• The day before serving, season the meat heavily with salt and pepper, and sear it in a frying pan with one tablespoon of the oil. Then preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Put the meat in a pot, add a little water, and braise, covered, for about 2 hours, or until tender. Set aside to cool, and then refrigerate overnight.
• Also the day before serving, heat the remaining oil in another pot, and sauté the leek and the onions. When the onions are translucent, add the turnips, carrots, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, ras el hanout, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, and garlic. Cover the vegetables and spices with water, and simmer, covered, until the carrots are tender.
• The next day, cut the lamb into 2-inch chunks, and put it in the pot with the vegetables. Add the zucchini. Simmer slowly until the zucchini is just cooked but still bright green. Adjust seasonings, and stir in the harissa sauce. (I also serve more at the table, so that people can adjust the heat to their taste.)
• Stir together the harissa, couscous broth, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, cinnamon, and Spanish pepper in a small bowl. Serve with the couscous.

AFRICAN LAMB COUSCOUS FROM MAURITANIA

Steps:

• In a large stew pot that has a tight fitting lid, brown the meat by stirring quickly in hot oil or butter. Reduce heat and sauté the onions and garlic until golden. Add vegetables, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes. Cover with about 2 cups water, put the lid on the pot, and simmer until vegetables are tender and meat is cooked. Mix the dates, raisins, and chickpeas into the dry couscous, and steam. Serve by ladling the stew over couscous on individual plates. Serves 6 to 8.
• COUSCOUS: There are several ways of steaming and softening this form of semolina wheat that is a base for north African stews. The preferred method is to use a couscousier.
• If you don't have a couscousier here is a method. Get dry couscous grain in an ethnic or gourmet grocery or a natural foods store. Allow 2 oz. per person for a meal.
• Pour the couscous into a large bowl and cover it with cold Iwater. Stir, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then scrape the damp grain out onto a clean absorbent cloth such as a linen dish towel. (If all the water hasn't been soaked up, you should drain it off first.) Leave the grain to swell for 15 minutes. If you prefer, you can leave the grains in the bowl, but as they are more confined, they may not become quite as fluffy.
• Now you must find a way to steam the couscous. A colander that will sit part way down into a pot, without sinking to the bottom, can become a homemade couscousier. But if your colander, like most, has holes too large to prevent the couscous grains from falling through, you must line it with a clean, porous cloth (cheesecloth) When everything is ready, bring water in the pot to a boil, and steam the couscous, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• Now the couscous must swell and steam a second time, but with slight variations. Once again, put it into a bowl or onto the towel. Sprinkle cold water over it-perhaps half a cup for every pound of couscous-and rub grains between your fingers to break up any lumps that have formed. After it has sat for 10 minutes, rub some oil onto your hands and rework the grains with your fingers. (For special occasions, use butter to grease and separate the grains.).
• Finely, steam the couscous for 25 more minutes, and serve hot.
• There is nothing complicated about this process, but it does take some time.
• If it sounds too ambitious, try the packaged, pre-cooked grain that is widely available where couscous is sold and follow the simple directions on the box. True connoisseurs argue, no doubt that you will never know what real couscous tastes like unless you steam your own. The "instant" kind is acceptable though.
• The Africa News Cookbook.

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Prep time does not include marinating time.
• Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl or storage container, mix well, add lamb fillets, turn to coat, cover, marinade several hours or overnight.
• Remove lamb from marinade, discard left over marinade, cook lamb in a fry pan, or grill, or BBQ until cooked as desired, slice thickly and serve over couscous.
• Couscous.
• In a small fry pan heat a little olive oil and cook peppers until tender.
• Bring water, stock and mango chutney to the boil, add couscous sachet and cook according to packet instructions (mine is 2 Minute Couscous.)Drain and place couscous in a bowl fluff with fork.
• Add peppers, lemon juice, coriander and currants stir gently to combine.
• Yogurt.
• Combine yogurt with coriander, stir and serve drizzled over lamb.
• To Serve: Place a mound of couscous in the centre of a plate, arrange sliced lamb on top and drizzle with yogurt.

MOROCCAN LAMB WITH TOMATO & COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Sprinkle the lamb with Moroccan spice. Heat the oil in a pan, add the lamb fillets and cook until the lamb is cooked as desired. Remove the lamb to a warm serving plate.
• Add the onion, garlic, red pepper and carrot to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and juice, and the Baby Peas, stirring to combine. Cover and cook over a low heat for 10 minutes.
• Spoon the sauce onto the prepared couscous. Cut the lamb into slices and serve on top of the sauce.

COUSCOUS WITH LAMB, ONIONS, AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Prepare the couscous in a large, round, ovenproof dish as described on page 112, leaving the final heating in the oven to be done 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
• Prepare the meat broth in a large pan. Put in the meat, with about 1/2 pound onions, chopped, and cover with 7 1/2 cups water. Bring to the boil and remove the scum. Add salt and pepper, the ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the cloves. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours. At this point, add the saffron and more water, if necessary, and simmer for another 30 minutes, or until the meat is so tender you can pull it apart with your fingers.
• At the same time, prepare the honeyed onion tfaya. Cut the remaining onions in half and slice them. Put them in a pan with 1 cup water. Put the lid on and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, until the onions are very soft. Remove the lid and cook further, until the liquid has evaporated. Add the butter and oil and cook until the onions are golden. Stir in the honey and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, the drained raisins, and a pinch of salt. Continue cooking for another 10 minutes, or until the onions caramelize and become brown.
• Fry the almonds in a drop of oil until golden, turning them over, then drain on paper towels. Coarsely chop about half of them.
• About 20 to 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, put the couscous in the oven, preheated to 400°F, and heat through until it is steaming hot, fluffing it with a fork after about 10 minutes. Before serving, fork the butter, cut into small pieces, into the couscous and again fluff up the couscous as it melts in.
• To serve, moisten the couscous with a ladle of broth and mix in the chopped almonds, and leave it in the baking dish or turn it onto a large, round platter; shape it into a mound and make a wide shallow hollow in the center. Put the meat in the hollow, cover with the onion and raisin tfaya, and sprinkle with the remaining whole, fried almonds. Serve the broth separately.