Savory Pumpkin And Oxtail Cous Cous Recipes

SAVOURY COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat butter in sauce pan (which has a lid).
• Add chopped onions, stir and allow to cook until soft.
• Stir in crushed garlic.
• Add couscous, stir.
• Add chicken stock, stir and bring to boil.
• Remove off heat, cover and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
• Stir in coriander or parsley.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve as a side dish.

COUSCOUS WITH PUMPKIN STEW

Steps:

• Heat a tablespoon of the oil in a heavy three-quart saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until lightly browned. Stir in the raisins, cinnamon, cumin and orange peel.
• Add the pumpkin, chickpeas and a cup of the stock. Cover and cook over very low heat until the pumpkin is tender, about 20 minutes. Add a little additional stock, if necessary, to keep the pumpkin moist. When the pumpkin is tender, remove it from the heat and season it with the cayenne pepper and salt. Add all but one and a fourth cups of the stock. The stew should be almost soupy.
• Bring the remaining one and a fourth cups of stock to a simmer in a small saucepan. Pour it into a bowl. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and stir in the couscous. Cover and set it aside for five to eight minutes, until the couscous is tender and fluffy. Season it to taste with salt.
• To serve, spread the couscous on a serving dish. Reheat the pumpkin stew and spoon it, draining it well, into the center of the couscous. Sprinkle with coriander.
• Pour the liquid from the pumpkin into another serving bowl or sauce dish and serve it alongside the couscous with pumpkin stew to be used to moisten the couscous.

OXTAIL AND PUMPKIN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a large dutch oven heat the oil and butter over medium-high heat.
• Add the oxtails and brown on all sides, about 6 minutes.
• (don't fuss them around, leave'em be!) Add onions and cook until slightly softened, about 2 minutes.
• Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and red pepper, and cook until aromatic, about 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
• Lower the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 2 hours and 30 minutes, or until oxtails are tender but not falling apart.
• Add the carrots and continue to cook uncovered over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
• Add the pumpkin, sugar and raisins, and continue to cook uncovered, until pumpkin and oxtails are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Add the chickpeas, cilantro and parsley and cook an additional 10 minutes, until flavors come together.
• Taste and adjust seasoning, serve over hot cous cous.

STEAMED COUSCOUS WITH TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Steps:

• Soak couscous in water to cover 10 minutes, then drain. Steam couscous in a steamer (lined with cheesecloth if holes are large) set over 1 inch simmering water, tightly covered, 20 minutes. Transfer couscous to a bowl and fluff with a fork. Pour 1 cup water over couscous and season with salt. Let stand, uncovered, 10 minutes.
• While couscous stands, toast pumpkin and fennel seeds in oil in a skillet over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until pumpkin seeds are puffed and beginning to pop, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt.
• Return couscous to steamer and steam, tightly covered, 20 minutes more. Transfer couscous to bowl and toss with pumpkin and fennel seeds.

SAVORY PUMPKIN AND OXTAIL COUS COUS

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or cous-cousiere, heat the oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the oxtails and brown on all sides, about 6 minutes. Add onions and cook until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, red pepper, and salt and pepper, and cook until aromatic, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 2 hours and 30 minutes, or until oxtails are tender but not falling apart. Add the carrots and continue to cook uncovered over medium-low heat for 20 minutes. Add the pumpkin, sugar, and raisins, and continue to cook uncovered, until pumpkin and oxtails are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the chickpeas, cilantro, and parsley and cook an additional 10 minutes, until flavors come together. Taste and adjust seasonings, serve over hot couscous.