BERBER COUSCOUS WITH SEVEN VEGETABLES

BERBER COUSCOUS WITH SEVEN VEGETABLES image

Yield 10 10

Number Of Ingredients 28

Ingredients

--FOR THE GRAIN--
5 cups couscous
5 cups warm water
2 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 tablespoons butter -- or more oil
--FOR THE STEW--
3 pounds lamb, cubed -- *see note
2 large onion -- cut in slices
1 1/4 cups chickpeas -- soak overnight
3 tablespoons sunflower oil
pepper -- to taste
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
salt -- to taste
5 whole tomatoes -- quartered
1 pound carrots -- cut in half
1 pound turnips -- peeled & quartered
1 small cabbage -- cut into 2" chunks
1 pound zucchini -- cut into 2" chunks
1/2 pound fava beans -- shelled
2 each fennel bulbs -- quartered
1 pound pumpkin cubes -- peeled
1/2 pound eggplant -- cut in pieces
2 each bell peppers -- cut in ribbons
2 each chili peppers
1 cup cilantro -- chopped
1 cup Italian parsley -- chopped
2 teaspoons harissa (moroccan red pepper sauce) -- or to taste

Steps:

Put the couscous in a wide oven dish so that the grains are not squashed on top of each other. Gradually add the warm salted water, stirring all the time so that it is absorbed evenly. Keep fluffing up the grain with a fork and breaking up any lumps (as the grains stick together). After about 10-15 minutes, when the grain is plump and tender, mix in the vegetable oil and rub the grain between your hands above the bowl, to air it and break up any lumps. Put the meats in a large pan with the onions and the drained chickpeas. If you are using canned ones, leave them out now and put them in towards the end of the cooking. Cover with about 3 quarts water, add the oil, pepper and saffron, and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Add salt, the tomatoes, carrots and turnips, and cook for 1/2 hour more, or until the meats are very tender. Add the remaining ingredients except the harissa and more water--you need to have plenty of broth--and cook a further 1/2 hour. Make a hot, peppery sauce to accompany. Take 3 ladles of broth from the stew and stir in the harissa or 2 tablespoons paprika and 1 teaspoon ground chili pepper, or more to taste--enough to make it very strong and fiery. Put the couscous, uncovered, in a preheated 400 degree F. oven and heat through for 15-20 minutes, until very hot. To serve, pile the couscous onto a large round dish. Add butter or more oil and work it into the grain as it melts. Shape it into a mound with a pit or crater at the top. Arrange the meat at the top and the vegetables down the sides, and pour a little broth all over. Serve the broth in a separate bowl. Pass the broth and the hot, peppery sauce round for people to help themselves. A French way of serving is to present the couscous separately, and the meat and vegetables with the broth in a large bowl.