Couscous Royal

We were quite exhausted from the whole christmas experience (at least I was!) and from our cycle rides since we got back home so we were quite happy to stay in and miss the madness of New Year's celebration.

I wanted to try a couscous recipe and to watch Babel. We also had a bottle of wine left from our wedding meal. The most amazing fact from the whole thing, I mean couscous + Babel, is that the first scene of the movie is in a restaurant in Morocco which serves couscous!

This was a very nice meal. Easy to make and very tasty.

Serves 6

3 carrots, cut into big chunks
3 courgettes, cut into big chunks
1 medium butternut squash, cut into big chunks
1.2 litres vegetable stock
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
pinch of saffron strands
2 TBSP olive oil
Rind and juice of 1 lemon
2 TBSP clear honey
500g couscous
60g butter
175g seedless raisins
salt & pepper

1. Put the stock, carrots, spices, saffron into a large saucepan. Bring to the boil, add the olive oil and simmer for 15 minutes.

2. Add the lemon rind and juice, honey, courgettes and squash. Season well. Bring back to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile soak the couscous according to the packet instructions. Stir in the butter and transfer to a warm serving dish.

4. Drain the vegetables, reserving the liquid. Discard the cinnamon sticks. Arrange the vegetables onto the couscous. Put the raisins on top and spoon over 6 tablespoons of of the reserved stock. Keep warm.

5. Return the remaining stock to the boil for minutes until reduced.

6. Serve immediately with the sauce separate from the couscous.