Couscous

Ingredients for 5 servings:

• 600 g minced beef
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 2 tbsp paprika powder, sweet
• ½ tsp harissa
• salt and pepper
• 1 onion(s)
• 1 clove(s) garlic
• 1 tsp, heaped cumin
• 1 tbsp paprika powder, sweet
• 1 tbsp spice mix (ras el hanout)
• 1 tsp harissa
• 1 package of tomatoes, pureed
• 2 carrots
• 1 zucchini
• 1 gr. can/n chickpeas
• possibly vegetable broth
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups couscous, instant or
• Bulgur, fine
• ½ tsp butter
• 1 handful of raisins
• n. B. Oil
• n. B. water

Instructions

Working time approx. 35 minutes; Total time approx. 35 minutes

with beef balls à la Merguez

Season the minced meat generously with crushed garlic, harissa, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. It should turn a true orange-red color; these quantities are only a guideline. (If you don’t like the taste of mutton, feel free to substitute some of the minced meat with mutton; I prefer it this way.) Form the mixture into small balls. Heat a little oil in a heavy-bottomed pot, fry the balls all over, and dice the onion while you do so. Once the balls have browned all over, remove them from the pot and sauté the onion in the oil. Then add the spices and garlic, sauté briefly, and pour in the passata. Thin further with at least 500 ml of water. Cut the carrots and zucchini into sticks, then add them to the liquid. Taste and season further with stock and the spices mentioned above, if desired. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes. Finally, add the chickpeas. Place the couscous or fine bulgur in a bowl with salt and a knob of butter. Pour boiling water over it according to the package instructions and let it swell. (If the package doesn’t specify this, use less water rather than more, e.g., 1-1.5 times as much as the couscous. It will then continue to absorb the sauce.) The raisins can be added directly to the couscous sauce. However, if you don’t like raisins, it’s recommended that you serve them separately. If you can’t find ras el hanout, you can also mix coriander, cardamom, a little cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, a tiny bit of allspice, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg.