Curried Couscous With Spinach And Chickpeas Recipes

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS, SPINACH AND MINT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the spices. Stir together for about half a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and add the drained chickpeas, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add the tomato paste, the harissa and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender. Remove 1 cup of the broth to flavor the couscous.
• Reconstituting and steaming the couscous: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the couscous and salt to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the couscous and add the cup of broth you removed from the stew. Stir well, or moisten your fingers and rub the couscous with them to evenly distribute the oil and broth. Add enough water to cover by 1/2 inch and let sit for 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon or rub the couscous between your moistened thumbs and fingers, so that the couscous doesn't lump. The couscous will now be fairly soft; fluff it with a fork or with your hands. The traditional way to finish reconstituting the couscous is to place it above the simmering stew for 45 minutes. I find, however, that steaming it in a microwave results in perfectly fluffy couscous. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic and pierce the plastic with the tip of a paring knife. Heat at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully and allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plastic and fluff with forks or a spoon. Cover again with plastic and microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plastic as the couscous will be steamy. You can reconstitute the couscous a day ahead and reheat in the microwave shortly before serving.
• Shortly before serving, stir in the spinach and the mint. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. The stew should be spicy and flavorful. Serve the couscous in wide bowls or mound onto plates and top with the stew. Pass more harissa at the table.

BAKED COUSCOUS WITH SPINACH AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Combine the couscous, boiling stock or water, and salt in a large bowl; cover with a plate. Let sit 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the garlic and onion 10 minutes, or until tender. Add the drained tomatoes and cook 10 minutes more, stirring frequently. Stir the tomato mixture into the couscous and mix in the reserved tomato juice, basil, pine nuts, raw spinach, and pepper.
• Spread half the couscous mixture into a 12 by 7 by 2-inch baking dish or other shallow (2 1/2 quart) baking dish. Sprinkle on the cheese, then top with the remaining couscous. Cover the dish with foil and bake 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

SPINACH & CHICKPEA CURRY

Steps:

• Heat the curry paste in a large non-stick frying pan. Once it starts to split, add the onion and cook for 2 mins to soften. Tip in the tomatoes and bubble for 5 mins or until the sauce has reduced.
• Add the chickpeas and some seasoning, then cook for 1 min more. Take off the heat, then tip in the spinach and allow the heat of the pan to wilt the leaves. Season, add the lemon juice, and serve with basmati rice.

SWEET POTATO CURRY WITH SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• You may choose to cook the sweet potatoes however you prefer.
• I like to peel, chop and steam mine in a veggie steamer for about 15 minutes.
• Baking or boiling work well too.
• While sweet potatoes cook, heat 1-2 tsp of canola or vegetable oil over medium heat.
• Add onions and sauté 2-3 minutes, or until they begin to soften.
• Next, add the curry powder, cumin, and cinnamon, and stir to coat the onions evenly with spices.
• Add tomatoes with their juices, and the chickpeas, stir to combine.
• Add ½ cup water and raise heat up to a strong simmer for about a minute or two.
• Next, add the fresh spinach, a couple handfuls at a time, stirring to coat with cooking liquid.
• When all the spinach is added to the pan, cover and simmer until just wilted, about 3 minutes.
• Add the cooked sweet potatoes to the liquid, and stir to coat.
• Simmer for another 3-5 minutes, or until flavors are well combined.
• Transfer to serving dish, toss with fresh cilantro, and serve hot.
• This dish is nice served over basmati or brown rice.

CURRIED COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• In a large pot, cook onion, red pepper and garlic in the olive oil over medium low heat until soft, about 7 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, chickpeas, peas, corn and spices and continue to cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
• Add broth, increase heat and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover, remove from heat and let sit for 6 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork and serve immediately or pack for tomorrow's lunch!

CHICKPEAS WITH BABY SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, tomato paste and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring for one to two minutes, until fragrant and the tomato paste has turned a darker color. Add the chickpeas, the stock or water, and the cayenne, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring until each addition of spinach wilts. Add salt to taste and simmer uncovered, stirring often, for five minutes. Add lots of freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt and cayenne, and serve.

CURRIED COUSCOUS, SPINACH, AND CHICKPEA WRAP

Steps:

• Toast the chopped walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, 2-4 minutes; set aside.
• Over medium heat, melt butter in a large non-stick skillet.
• Add in the onion and ginger; cook and stir for 3 minutes.
• Add in the curry and garlic; continue to cook and stir for 2 minutes (don't let the garlic get brown); remove from heat.
• Add in the chickpeas, couscous, salt, and 1 cup boiling water; stir.
• Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.
• Fluff couscous with a fork; add in walnuts and stir to combine.
• Lay out the tortillas; spread about 1 tablespoon chutney and 2 tablespoons yogurt over each tortilla.
• Cover each tortilla with about 5 spinach leaves.
• Spoon 1/4 of the couscous mixture onto each tortilla in a thick horizontal strip across the bottom third (leave about 1/2 inch border from the sides of the tortilla).
• Wrap up burrito-style (fold in the sides of the tortilla, then roll up bottom to top).
• Cut in half on the bias and serve immediately.

ONE-POT CURRIED CAULIFLOWER WITH COUSCOUS AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium. Add cauliflower and cook, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to brown and soften, 5-8 minutes. Add onion, garlic, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and cook, stirring, until onion and cauliflower are cooked through, 5-7 minutes more. Add curry powder, salt, and cumin. Cook, stirring, until spices are toasted, about 30 seconds.
• Add broth and bring to a boil. Add chickpeas, couscous, and lentils, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally to avoid couscous from sticking, until couscous and lentils are cooked through and liquid is almost completely reduced to a thick sauce, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, juice 1 lime to yield 3 Tbsp. juice. Whisk lime juice, yogurt, and 3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro in a medium bowl until smooth. Add water by the tablespoonful until sauce is thin enough to drizzle. Cut remaining lime into wedges.
• Fold spinach into chickpea mixture. Top with cilantro leaves and almonds, if using, and serve yogurt sauce and lime wedges alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Stew (without spinach) can be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill. Reheat and fold in spinach before serving.

SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup broth in a large saucepan. Add onion, garlic and curry powder and saute until onion begins to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add remaining broth and spinach. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and black pepper, continue simmering until spinach is tender and chickpeas are heated through.
• Pour boiling water over couscous, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Divide couscous among bowls.
• Serve spinach-chickpea mixture over couscous.