Road To Morocco Lamb With Pine Nut Couscous Recipes

ROAD TO MOROCCO LAMB WITH PINE NUT COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place the lamb in a resealable food storage bag. Combine the spices in a small bowl, then sprinkle them into the bag and seal the bag. Shake to coat the lamb pieces evenly in the spices.
• Heat a large, deep skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add the EVOO, then the lamb. Sear and caramelize the lamb, turning to brown all sides, 5 to 7 minutes in all. Add the onions and garlic and cook for 5 minutes more. Add the dates and 2 cups of the chicken stock to the pan and cover. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes more to plump the dates and soften the onions. Remove the cover and adjust the seasonings.
• During the last 5 minutes the lamb cooks, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the pine nuts and stir until toasted, 1 or 2 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cups of stock and bring it to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the couscous, and cover the pan. Let it stand for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the couscous with a fork.
• Serve the lamb over the couscous in shallow dishes and garnish it with chopped scallions and cilantro.
• Make a double or triple batch of this spice blend to use with ground chicken or turkey for an unexpected Moroccan burger. The spice blend will keep for 6 months in an airtight container.

MOROCCAN LAMB SHANK WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Mix ground cumin, coriander, paprika and fennel seeds in a bowl. Put the olive oil in a big sauce pan with lid or a casserole in medium heat. When the oil is hot, put in the mixed spices. Fry them for 1-2 minutes until you can smell the lovely fragrance of the spices. Add ginger and chili, fry for a further 1 minute.
• Add lamb shanks in the pan, make sure the shanks are coated with the spices while browning the meat. After the lamb shanks are nice and brown, add the chopped tomatoes, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Add chicken stock into the pan, make sure the lamb shanks are largely covered, and bring it to boil. Add cinnamon stick, salt and honey to the pot, cover the pan with the lid and reduce the heat to let it simmer for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, adjust the seasoning to your preference. Let the lamb continue to cook for another 2 hours, and turn the lamb shanks over every 30 minutes, and add additional water if the stocks becomes a bit dry.
• After 2 hours and 30 minutes, add the chopped apricots, figs and almond flakes to the lamb, and continue to cook for another 30 minutes. The meat should be almost falling off the bones by now.
• Meanwhile, put couscous in a large bowl, and cover with the sauce from the lamb. The liquid should be enough to cover the couscous with a finger width of extra water on the top. Cover the bowl with the lid from the pot for about 5 minutes. This would allow the couscous to soak up all the flavours. Uncover the bowl, and fluff the couscous up with a fork. Sprinkle some of the chopped coriander and mix.
• Divide the couscous up into 2 bowls, and dish out the lam shank on top of the couscous. Don't forget to put some of that lovely sauce on top of the dish. And finally, sprinkle some of the chopped coriander on top.

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.