Moroccan Spiced Salmon With Vegetable Couscous Recipes

SPICE & HONEY SALMON WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Zest and juice 1 lemon, then mix the zest and ½ the juice with the spice, garlic, ½ the spring onions and 2 tsp oil. Season well. Put the salmon into a shallow dish, spoon over the marinade, then leave for 10 mins to let the flavours mingle.
• Meanwhile, put the couscous in a large bowl. Tip in the remaining lemon juice and oil, spring onions and 150ml boiling water, then cover and leave to stand.
• Lift the salmon onto a foil-lined baking tray, spoon over any leftover marinade, then roast for 15 mins. With 5 mins to go, pull out the baking tray and spoon 1 tsp clear honey over each fillet.
• Add the mint to the couscous and fluff it up with a fork. Serve the salmon with the couscous, spoon over the juices from the baking tray and add lemon wedges.

MOROCCAN VEGETABLES WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot heat oil over medium high heat. Stir in the onion and cook for 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in spices and cook until aroma is released. Stir in carrots, potatoes and squash and toss to coat. Cook vegetables for 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and water. If necessary add enough water so that all the vegetables are submerged. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Stir in zucchini and continue to cook for 20 more minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and season with salt and pepper, Tabasco and cilantro. Serve hot with couscous and warm pita bread.

HARISSA ROAST SALMON WITH LEMON CHICKPEA COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan, add the onions, fennel, garlic and cumin seeds and fry, stirring frequently, for about 15 mins until the vegetables are soft and golden. Stir in the lemon zest and season. Leave to cool.
• Stir the harissa with the agave or honey. Place a salmon fillet, skinned-side down, on a large sheet of baking parchment and spread with half the harissa mixture. Top evenly with the vegetables, then cover with the other salmon fillet, positioning it so that the thickest end is on top of the thinnest end of the other fillet. Can be made up to this point, covered and chilled the day before.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 with a large baking sheet inside. Brush the salmon with the rest of the harissa mixture, then lift (still on the parchment) onto the hot baking sheet and bake for 30 mins. Remove from the oven and check that the fish is cooked all the way through; if not done to your liking, cook 5 mins more and check again.
• To make the couscous, crumble the stock cube into a large bowl and add the harissa, currants and couscous. Meanwhile, put the chickpeas in a bowl with the lemon juice, oil and seasoning. Just before serving, pour 450ml boiling water over the couscous, stir well, then cover with a plate and leave to soak for 5 mins. Add the lemon zest, parsley and mint (if using) to the chickpeas and stir well, then toss through the hot couscous with the flaked almonds. Serve on a big, warm platter with the salmon (the easiest way to transfer the salmon is to lift it still on the parchment, then slide it on top), with lemon wedges on the side. To serve, cut the salmon in slices, or cut thicker slices and halve to make chunky squares.

COUSCOUS WITH MOROCCAN SPICES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a non stick pan and cook the chopped onion and garlic in it till the onion is soft and translucent.
• Stir in the cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, coriander, cayenne and paprika.
• Continue stirring over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then add vegetable broth, tomato puree and currants.
• Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes.
• Remove the sauce from heat and stir in fresh lemon (or lime) juice to your taste.
• If not using immediately and planning to reheat before serving, wait to add citrus juice at the last minute.
• To cook the couscous, heat the broth, water, butter and salt together in a medium skillet till the liquid boils.
• Reduce to a simmer, add the couscous, cover the skillet tightly and leave on the lowest heat for 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat an leave it covered for another couple of minutes before fluffing with a fork.
• (If using instant couscous, check package directions - you may not need to keep it on heat after boiling, but just cover and wait till liquid is absorbed - just see if liquid amounts match what is mentioned on the package).

MOROCCAN SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Combine first 10 ingredients in a large bowl. Add salmon, turning to coat. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Remove salmon, reserving marinade. Place salmon in a 13x9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Cut lemon in half lengthwise; cut 1 lemon half crosswise into 1/8 inch thick slices. Reserve remaining lemon half for another use.
• Add the lemon slices, red and green bell pepper slices, 2 Tbsp of water and tomato slices to marinade; stir gently to coat. Arrange lemon mixture in an even layer over salmon; cover with foil.
• Bake at 400°F oven for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
• Place 1 fillet on each of 4 plates over rice. Top each serving with about 1/2 cup lemon mixture and drizzle each serving with about 2 1/2 Tbsp pan juices.

MOROCCAN-SPICED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cut enough onion into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 cup and thinly slice garlic. Trim fennel stalks flush with bulb, discarding stalks. Halve bulb and core. Cut enough fennel bulb into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 1/4 cups. Cut enough zucchini into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 1/2 cups. Cut enough carrot into 1/4-inch dice to measure 2/3 cup.
• Peel tomato (see below), reserving boiling water and ice water, and seed. Cut enough tomato into 1/4-inch dice to measure 3/4 cup. Add carrot to boiling water and cook 1 minute. Drain carrot in a colander. Transfer carrot to ice water to stop cooking and drain.
• In a large heavy skillet cook onion and garlic in oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add fennel, zucchini, and carrot and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add spices and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in tomato and pepper and salt to taste and cook, covered, over low heat, stirring occasionally, until fennel and carrot are just tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Keep vegetables warm, partially covered. Vegetables may be prepared 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons water.
• To peel tomatoes:
• Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water. Cut an X in blossom end of each tomato. In a saucepan of boiling water blanch tomatoes 10 seconds. Transfer tomatoes with a slotted spoon to ice water to stop cooking. Peel tomatoes.