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Brahims Desert Couscous

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Ingredients

Adjust Servings:
250 g diced lamb or 250 g chicken thighs
2 large ripe tomatoes, cored and cut in 8 pieces each
300 g potatoes, quartered lengthwise
250 g carrots, peeled and cut in long chunks
250 g zucchini, cut into long chunks
1 large onion, peeled and cut into long, chunky slices (about 300g)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, wrapped in cheesecloth
2 cups couscous (about 330g)
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
salt & freshly ground black pepper

Nutritional information

1502.8
Calories
470 g
Calories From Fat
52.3 g
Total Fat
13.7 g
Saturated Fat
122.4 mg
Cholesterol
257.1 mg
Sodium
194.9 g
Carbs
21.3 g
Dietary Fiber
18.7 g
Sugars
63.1 g
Protein
666g
Serving Size

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Brahims Desert Couscous

Features:
    Cuisine:

    I learned to make this from Brahim, a Berber who guided me and my husband through the Sahara desert twice. It is not normal for men to do the cooking in Morocco but Brahim had to learn because he has to cook when he takes people into the desert and how he has learned! We never ate better than when we were in the desert. This is an authentic Moroccan way of making couscous and even though the Moroccans often buy the same boxed couscous available everywhere, they use this special method of preparation for it because they say it helps with digestion. The one difference I have seen between this and other Moroccan methods is that it does not involve washing the grains at the start. I can only assume this is because the recipe was originally made in the desert, where conservation of water is crucial. The vegetables here are a guide. Potatoes, carrots, courgettes, tomatoes and onions are always in a couscous. You may wish to vary the proportions or add things like parnsips, chickpeas and aubergines. The only rule is no garlic, according to Brahim. I admit this couscous is light on meat, but I believe you only need a bit of meat for flavour. If you are a devoted carnivore, by all means add more.

    • 70 min
    • Serves 2
    • Easy

    Ingredients

    Directions

    Share

    Brahim’s Desert Couscous, I learned to make this from Brahim, a Berber who guided me and my husband through the Sahara desert twice It is not normal for men to do the cooking in Morocco but Brahim had to learn because he has to cook when he takes people into the desert and how he has learned! We never ate better than when we were in the desert This is an authentic Moroccan way of making couscous and even though the Moroccans often buy the same boxed couscous available everywhere, they use this special method of preparation for it because they say it helps with digestion The one difference I have seen between this and other Moroccan methods is that it does not involve washing the grains at the start I can only assume this is because the recipe was originally made in the desert, where conservation of water is crucial The vegetables here are a guide Potatoes, carrots, courgettes, tomatoes and onions are always in a couscous You may wish to vary the proportions or add things like parnsips, chickpeas and aubergines The only rule is no garlic, according to Brahim I admit this couscous is light on meat, but I believe you only need a bit of meat for flavour If you are a devoted carnivore, by all means add more , I learned to make this from Brahim, a Berber who guided me and my husband through the Sahara desert twice It is not normal for men to do the cooking in Morocco but Brahim had to learn because he has to cook when he takes people into the desert and how he has learned! We never ate better than when we were in the desert This is an authentic Moroccan way of making couscous and even though the Moroccans often buy the same boxed couscous available everywhere, they use this special method of preparation for it because they say it helps with digestion The one difference I have seen between this and other Moroccan methods is that it does not involve washing the grains at the start I can only assume this is because the recipe was originally made in the desert, where conservation of water is crucial The vegetables here are a guide Potatoes, carrots, courgettes, tomatoes and onions are always in a couscous You may wish to vary the proportions or add things like parnsips, chickpeas and aubergines The only rule is no garlic, according to Brahim I admit this couscous is light on meat, but I believe you only need a bit of meat for flavour If you are a devoted carnivore, by all means add more


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    Steps

    1
    Done

    Start by Sauteing the Meat, Onions, Tomatoes in 1 Tablespoon of the Oil For a Couple Minutes Over a High Heat.

    2
    Done

    Grind in Some Salt and Lots of Black Pepper.

    3
    Done

    Meanwhile, Heat Up Some Water in a Kettle and After a Couple Minutes Add in the Parsley and All the Vegetables Except the Courgettes Plus Enough Hot Water to Cover Everything.

    4
    Done

    Cover the Pot and Cook Over a High Heat.

    5
    Done

    Next, Put the Couscous in a Large Bowl and Pour Over 1/4 Cup Water.

    6
    Done

    Rub the Grains Together by Using Both Your Hands and Moving Them Back and Forth, Palms Together, With the Couscous Between Your Palms. You Make the Same Form With Your Hand as If You Were Praying. Rub Until the Couscous Is No Longer Clumpy and All the Water Has Been Absorbed.

    7
    Done

    Spread the Couscous Evenly in the Top of Your Couscousiere.

    8
    Done

    If You Do not Have a Couscousiere, You Can Fashion One Out of a Colander and Some Cheesecloth. All You Need Is Something to Steam the Couscous.

    9
    Done

    the Two Most Crucial Things Are That the Colander Sits High Enough in the Pot That the Water Below Will not Come in Contact With the Couscous and Also That You Have a Tight Seal Between the Top and Bottom So the Steam Is Forced Through the Couscous.

    10
    Done

    If You Are Making Your Own Steamer, a Cloth Wrapped Around the Pot May Help Form a Tight Seal. If You Do not Have This, the Couscous Will Take Longer to Cook Properly Because It Won't Get the Same Volume of Steam Going Through It.

    11
    Done

    Wait a Couple Minutes For the Steam to Start Rising Through the Couscous and Then Cover and Cook For 10 Minutes.

    12
    Done

    Take the Couscous Out and Empty Into the Bowl.

    13
    Done

    Add Another 1/4 Cup Water and Some Salt, Then Oil Your Hands With Some of the Remaining Olive Oil and Rework the Couscous the Same Way You Did the First Time.

    14
    Done

    It Can Be Very Hot So You May Have to Stir the Couscous a Few Times Until You Are Able to Handle It.

    15
    Done

    All the While, the Stew Is Continuing to Cook.

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