Couscous With Lamb Stew Recipes

COUSCOUS WITH LAMB STEW

Steps:

• Make lamb stew:
• Pat lamb dry. Heat oil in a 7- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown lamb in 3 batches, transferring to a bowl.
• Add onions to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in lamb with any juices that have accumulated in bowl, tomatoes, tomato juice, salt, black pepper, chile, herbs, and saffron and simmer, covered, 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir in carrots, turnips, bell peppers, and pumpkin and simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Stir in zucchini and chickpeas and simmer, covered, until zucchini is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Make spicy tomato sauce:
• Pour 1 cup broth from pot into a small heavy saucepan and add tomato paste, whisking until smooth. Simmer, stirring, until thick, about 10 minutes, then stir in paprika, rose petals, and cayenne.
• Cook and serve couscous:
• Bring water to a boil with butter and salt in a 4-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in couscous, cover, and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Mound couscous on a platter and top with stew, using a slotted spoon. Serve broth and tomato sauce on the side.

LAMB STEW WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a large flameproof casserole, heat 1 tablespoon (eyeball) of the oil.
• Add the lamb in batches and toss over high heat to brown it on all sides.
• Remove the lamb from the pan as it is browned.
• Wipe out the pan.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon (eyeball) of oil.
• Add the onion and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in the cinnamon, cumin, allspice, cayenne pepper and nutmeg.
• Cook for 30 seconds, stirring.
• Add the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add plenty of salt and pepper, to taste.
• Add the stock and return the meat to the pan.
• Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover the pan.
• Simmer the lamb for 1 hour.
• Stir in the raisins and their soaking liquid.
• Stir in the chickpeas.
• Cover the pan and cook for 30 minutes, or until the lamb is very tender.
• Add the parsley and cilantro to the lamb and taste for seasonings.
• Serve at once, ladled over the couscous.

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.

MERGUEZ AND LAMB COUSCOUS

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.

ALGERIAN STEW FOR COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot, e.g. one for soup. Add the onion and the meat and let it take some colour.
• Add enough water or broth to cover the meat, usually about 1 liter. Stir in the spices.
• Add the chickpeas right now, or they will never become soft!
• Let it simmer on low for about 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, add the vegetables, make sure everything is slightly covered with water/broth. Let simmer for another hour.
• After these two hours, vegetables should be soft, and you should be able to tear apart the meat with a spoon, as this is how it is eaten!
• Check for seasoning and serve with steamed couscous!