Ingredients

  • 5 cups couscous
  • 5 cups warm water
  • 12 teaspoons salt
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 tablespoons butter or more oil
  • 3 pounds lean lamb or beef, cut in large pieces, or 1 1/2 pounds meat and 1 chicken, cut into pieces
  • 2 large onions, quartered, then cut in thick slices
  • 1 1/4 cups chickpeas (soaked overnight) or a 1-pound can, drained
  • 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
  • Pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon saffron powder or threads
  • Salt
  • 4 or 5 tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 pound carrots, cut in half lengthwise or into thick pieces
  • 1 pound turnips, peeled and quartered, or left whole if baby ones
  • 1 small or 1/2 large white cabbage, cut into chunks
  • 1 pound zucchini, cut into big pieces
  • 1/2 pound fresh shelled or frozen fava beans
  • 2 fennel bulbs, quartered
  • 1 pound orange pumpkin, peeled and cut into pieces
  • 1/2 pound eggplant, cut into pieces
  • 2 green peppers, cut into ribbons
  • 2 chili peppers
  • 1 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 teaspoons harissa (page 464), or 2 tablespoons paprika and 1 teaspoon ground chili pepper, or more to taste

Method

  • Prepare the couscous as described in An Easy Way of Preparing Quick-Cooking Couscous in the Oven (page 376), using the quantities given in the ingredients list above; do not add the final butter till ready to serve.
  • 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 wateryou need to have plenty of brothand 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 the paprika and ground chili pepperenough to make it very strong and fiery.
  • 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.
  • You may add 1/3 cup raisins or pitted dates towards the end.
  • Other possible flavorings are 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon coriander.
  • Algerians put in runner beans and green peas.