Lamb and Vegetable Couscous

This recipe was requested by Dia … Im not so sure of its authenticity (im not an expert on Moroccan cuisine) but its a way my mom learned from a friend who lived there long back … its pretty simple to make and you can use any selection of vegetables … i used the instant couscous as its easy to use and im showing how to make it .. but if the instruction on the package you buy is different dont follow this way … to make it you will need :

Serves 4-5

- 1/2 Kg Lamb meat ( chopped into 2 by 2 inch cubes)

- 1 small onion coarsely  chopped

- 1 tb ghee or butter

- 2 medium tomatoes peeled and cut into quarters

- 1 big zucchini cut into big pieces

- 2 medium potatoes cut into big pieces

- 2 small bell peppers cut into big pieces (i used one yellow and one red)

- 1 big carrot cut into big pieces

- 1 very small pumpkin cut into big pieces (around 1 cup)

- 3 onions ( leave them whole) … if you can find pearl onions that would look better

- 3 garlic cloves .. chopped

- 1/8 ts of all the following spices ( black pepper, turmeric, ground coriander, ground cloves, nutmeg, ground fennel seeds, ginger powder, ground cardamom) … if you like it spicy you can add chilly powder too

- Salt .. to taste

- 250 gms couscous + 1 ts salt

- 250 ml boiling water

- 1 tb butter or ghee

In a Pressure Cooker … place the Ghee (or butter), onions and meat … simply cook the meat until all its liquids is released and starting to dry out …

Then add enough water to cover approximately 2 inches above the meat … or if you want to make extra stock you can always add more water …

Cover it and cook for half an hour … until the meat is well done and tender …

Mean while … cut all the vegetables …you can use any selection of vegetables you like … just cut it into approximately equal size…

ps. if you want to know how to peel the tomatoes refer to the Cabbage soup recipe

Once the meat is cooked transfer it into another pot … and add around 4 cups of stock..  you can add more later if you feel the stock is too less …

Start adding the vegetables according to how long each takes to cook … so first add the onion, potatoes and carrots …

Also add all the spices and salt to flavor the stock so that the vegetables can absorb the flavor …

Once the mixture starts boiling add the garlic …

When the carrots and potatoes are nearly cooked (around 5 mins) … add the peeled tomatoes and pumpkin …

After another 5 mins … add the bell peppers …

Finally add the zucchini … let boil for 5 more mins then its done …

Ps. dont over cook the vegetables … keep in mind that you want them only fork tender … if you over cook it the vegetables will be too soft and fall apart when served …

To make the couscous … first check the package direction .. most give this same way …

First in a plate add the couscous and salt …

Then to it add the boiling water …

Lightly mix the couscous … dont over mix it … just a little … then cover it and let it stand for 5 to 7 mins

Then add 1 tb of butter (or ghee) … and mix using a fork until the butter is melted and the couscous is nice and fluffy …

Serve the Couscous topped with the Lamb and Vegetable stew …

Enjoy …