🥘 Today, we’re sharing a recipe for Couscous with Vegetables, Meat, and Chickpeas, a traditional and beloved dish in Morocco and many North African countries.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

For the Couscous:

• Coarse or medium semolina 🍚

• Vegetable oil 🌻

• Water 💧

• Salt 🧂

For the Broth (Marqa):

• Meat pieces (lamb, beef, or chicken) 🍖

• Chopped onion 🧅

• Diced tomatoes 🍅

• Sliced carrots 🥕

• Diced potatoes 🥔

• Sliced zucchini 🥒

• Diced pumpkin (optional) 🎃

• Soaked and cooked chickpeas 🥣

• Olive oil 🫒

• Spices: turmeric ✨, ginger ✨, black pepper ⚫, cinnamon ✨, saffron or yellow food coloring ✨

• Chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish 🌿

• Water or broth 💧

For Tfaya (optional):

• Sliced onions 🧅

• Raisins 🍇

• Sugar 🍬

• Cinnamon ✨

• Orange blossom water (optional) 🌸

• Oil or butter 🧈

1️⃣ Couscous:

• In a large bowl, place the semolina 🍚 and drizzle with vegetable oil 🌻. Rub it with your fingertips until well coated.

• Gradually add salt 🧂 and water 💧, mixing until the semolina absorbs the water. Let it rest for a few minutes.

• Place the couscous in a couscoussier over boiling water. Cover and steam for 15–20 minutes.

• Remove, return to the bowl, sprinkle a little water, and fluff with a fork to break up any clumps. Repeat steaming 2–3 times until the couscous is tender and fluffy.

2️⃣ Broth:

• In a large pot, heat olive oil 🫒 and brown the meat 🍖 on all sides.

• Add chopped onion 🧅 and sauté until soft, then add tomatoes 🍅 and spices ✨⚫.

• Add carrots 🥕, potatoes 🥔, and pumpkin 🎃 if using. Cover with water or broth 💧 and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the meat.

• Add zucchini 🥒 and cooked chickpeas 🥣 in the final minutes so zucchini doesn’t get too soft.

3️⃣ Tfaya (optional):

• In a small pan, combine onions 🧅, raisins 🍇, sugar 🍬, cinnamon ✨, and oil or butter 🧈.

• Add a little water and cook on low heat until the onions are caramelized and raisins are plump.

• Add orange blossom water 🌸 at the end for extra flavor.

4️⃣ Serving:

• Place the steamed couscous in a large serving dish. Make a well in the center and add the meat 🍖, vegetables 🥕🥔🥒🎃, and chickpeas 🥣.

• Pour some broth over the couscous and vegetables, and garnish with parsley or cilantro 🌿.

• Serve the Tfaya on the side for anyone who wants it.

😋 Enjoy your meal!