{"id":"recipe_5aba2c986c","slug":"traditional-north-african-couscous","title":"Traditional North African Couscous","description":"A fragrant, heart-warming staple of North African cuisine featuring fluffy steamed semolina topped with a rich vegetable and meat stew.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":30,"cookMinutes":60,"totalMinutes":90,"activeMinutes":45},"ingredients":[{"id":"ingredient-1","original":"500g fine semolina couscous","name":"Couscous","quantity":500,"unit":"g","usQuantity":"2 1/2","usUnit":"cup","form":"fine","notes":"dry semolina","group":"Grains","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-2","original":"500g lamb shoulder, cut into chunks","name":"Lamb Shoulder","quantity":500,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1.1,"usUnit":"lb","form":"chunks","notes":"shoulder or neck works best","group":"Meat","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-3","original":"2 medium onions, chopped","name":"Onion","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"chopped","notes":"yellow or red","group":"Vegetables","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-4","original":"3 carrots, peeled and halved","name":"Carrots","quantity":3,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":3,"usUnit":"piece","form":"halved","notes":"peeled","group":"Vegetables","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-5","original":"2 zucchinis, cut into thick rounds","name":"Zucchini","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"thick rounds","notes":"","group":"Vegetables","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-6","original":"400g cooked chickpeas","name":"Chickpeas","quantity":400,"unit":"g","usQuantity":14.1,"usUnit":"oz","form":"cooked","notes":"drained","group":"Legumes","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-7","original":"2 tbsp tomato paste","name":"Tomato Paste","quantity":30,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"","notes":"","group":"Pantry","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-8","original":"3 tbsp olive oil","name":"Olive Oil","quantity":45,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":3,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"extra virgin","notes":"","group":"Fats","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-9","original":"1 tsp ground ginger","name":"Ginger","quantity":2,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tsp","form":"ground","notes":"","group":"Spices","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-10","original":"1 tsp ground turmeric","name":"Turmeric","quantity":2,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tsp","form":"ground","notes":"","group":"Spices","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-11","original":"Salt and black pepper to taste","name":"Black Pepper","quantity":1,"unit":"pinch","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"pinch","form":"","notes":"to taste","group":"Spices","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-12","original":"1.5L water","name":"Water","quantity":1.5,"unit":"l","usQuantity":"1 1/2","usUnit":"quart","form":"","notes":"","group":"Liquids","optional":false}],"instructions":[{"id":"instruction-1","text":"In a large pot (the bottom part of a couscoussier), heat olive oil and sauté the lamb chunks and onions until lightly browned.","group":"Stew Base","title":"Heat olive oil and sauté the lamb chunks and onions","timerMinutes":10,"sourceTitle":"Stew Base"},{"id":"instruction-2","text":"Add tomato paste, turmeric, ginger, salt, and pepper. Stir well, then pour in the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.","group":"Stew Base","title":"Add tomato paste, turmeric, ginger, salt, and pepper","timerMinutes":30,"sourceTitle":"Stew Base"},{"id":"instruction-3","text":"While the stew simmers, prepare the couscous grains. In a large bowl, lightly rub the semolina with a little water and oil to separate grains. Place the couscous in the steamer top.","group":"Couscous Preparation","title":"Prepare the couscous grains","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Couscous Preparation"},{"id":"instruction-4","text":"Add carrots to the stew pot. Place the couscous steamer on top of the pot. Ensure no steam escapes from the sides. Steam for 20 minutes.","group":"Cooking","title":"Add carrots to the stew pot","timerMinutes":20,"sourceTitle":"Cooking"},{"id":"instruction-5","text":"Remove the steamer. Add zucchini and chickpeas to the stew. Fluff the couscous with a fork in a bowl, add a splash of water, then return it to the steamer for a final 15 minutes of steaming.","group":"Cooking","title":"Remove the steamer","timerMinutes":15,"sourceTitle":"Cooking"},{"id":"instruction-6","text":"To serve, mound the couscous on a large platter. Arrange the meat and vegetables on top, and pour some of the broth over everything. Serve remaining broth on the side.","group":"Serving","title":"To serve, mound the couscous","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Serving"}],"notes":"Authentic couscous is steamed over the simmering stew to absorb the aromas. If you don't have a couscoussier, use a fine-mesh steamer over a standard pot.","cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Maghrebi","Moroccan","Algerian","Tunisian"]},"course":["main"],"cookingMethod":["boil","simmer","steam"],"equipment":["couscoussier","large pot","steamer basket","mixing bowl"],"diet":["high_protein","mediterranean"],"allergens":["wheat","gluten"],"difficulty":"medium","yield":{"amount":4,"unit":"servings","note":"Large main course portions"},"makeAhead":{"instructions":"The stew can be made a day ahead, but the couscous is best steamed fresh."},"storage":{"food":{"instructions":"Store stew and couscous in separate airtight containers in the fridge.","reheatingNotes":"Reheat stew on the stove. Re-steam couscous for 5 minutes to restore fluffiness."}},"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_5aba2c986c%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=17ad0648-3e43-4ea1-a7af-5c2767eb9598","imageAlt":"Traditional North African Couscous — recipe cover","aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","sourceUrl":"","tags":["couscous","stew","lamb","vegetables","healthy","traditional","maghreb"],"schemaVersion":1,"sourceTitle":"Traditional North African Couscous","sourcePublishedAt":"2026-02-04T22:08:03.337Z","sourceUpdatedAt":"2026-02-04T22:08:03.337Z","related":[{"id":"recipe_17142e2daf","slug":"asida-traditional-african-porridge","title":"Asida (Traditional African Porridge)","description":"A thick, smooth, cooked flour pudding popular across North and East Africa, typically served with melted butter and honey or date syrup for a comforting breakfast.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":25,"totalMinutes":30,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Sudanese","Libyan"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["vegetarian"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_17142e2daf%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=e46cb0f8-07cd-453d-8e07-df1274fe8fc9","imageAlt":"Asida (Traditional African Porridge) — recipe cover","tags":["porridge","traditional","sweet","dough","filling","soft"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":5,"stepCount":5},{"id":"recipe_e6582a3999","slug":"firfir-ethiopian-breakfast-fit-fit","title":"Firfir (Ethiopian Breakfast Fit-fit)","description":"A classic savory Ethiopian breakfast made with torn pieces of injera soaked in a spicy, flavorful sauce of berbere spice, aromatics, and spiced clarified butter.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":10,"cookMinutes":15,"totalMinutes":25,"activeMinutes":15},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Ethiopian","Eritrean"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_e6582a3999%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=f2f625e4-ee9c-425d-8c20-8e0103664b3e","imageAlt":"Firfir (Ethiopian Breakfast Fit-fit) — recipe cover","tags":["firfir","ethiopian","spicy","breakfast","injera","african"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":10,"stepCount":5},{"id":"recipe_18a4e55c12","slug":"kitfo-ethiopian-minced-beef","title":"Kitfo (Ethiopian Minced Beef)","description":"A traditional Ethiopian delicacy featuring finely minced lean beef seasoned with spicy mitmita and rich, aromatic niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter).","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":15,"cookMinutes":5,"totalMinutes":20,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Ethiopian"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["high_protein","gluten_free","low_carb"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_18a4e55c12%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=aeedadce-d5d5-4aa2-aa31-f13472950759","imageAlt":"Kitfo (Ethiopian Minced Beef) — recipe cover","tags":["beef","spicy","ethiopian","kitfo","high-protein","african-cuisine"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":5,"stepCount":4}]}