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Moroccan Couscous A Sweet and Savory Side Dish

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Moroccan Couscous is a vibrant, aromatic dish that blends sweet raisins and prunes with savory spices like cumin and cinnamon. Topped with caramelized onions, almonds, and fresh herbs, it’s a colorful and flavorful side dish.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups couscous

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground coriander

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 ¾ cups boiling vegetable broth (or water)

3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 large Spanish onions, sliced

1 cup raisins

1 cup pitted prunes

¼ cup sliced raw almonds or whole almonds, chopped

1 15oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon sweet paprika

½ teaspoon turmeric

½ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Pomegranate seeds

Chopped parsley

Chopped cilantro

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine couscous, 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, cinnamon, ginger, coriander, and black pepper. Pour boiling vegetable broth (or water) over the couscous, stir briefly, cover, and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
  2. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until golden and caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, add chickpeas, black pepper, sweet paprika, turmeric, cumin, and salt. Stir to combine, and cook for about 5 minutes.
  4. Once couscous is ready, fluff again and add to a large bowl. Mix in caramelized onions, spiced chickpeas, raisins, prunes, almonds, and olive oil. Toss gently to combine.
  5. Garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds, parsley, and cilantro. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

For a gluten-free version, substitute couscous with quinoa or gluten-free couscous.

Use pistachios, cashews, or pine nuts instead of almonds for a different flavor.

Add more vegetables like roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, or spinach for extra nutrition.

If you want a creamier dish, add a dollop of yogurt or tahini sauce on top when serving.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://familydinnercooking.com/moroccan-couscous-a-sweet-and-savory-side-dish/