Lamb Stew With Couscous Recipes

Steps:

• Make lamb stew:
• Pat lamb dry. Heat oil in a 7- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown lamb in 3 batches, transferring to a bowl.
• Add onions to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in lamb with any juices that have accumulated in bowl, tomatoes, tomato juice, salt, black pepper, chile, herbs, and saffron and simmer, covered, 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir in carrots, turnips, bell peppers, and pumpkin and simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Stir in zucchini and chickpeas and simmer, covered, until zucchini is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Make spicy tomato sauce:
• Pour 1 cup broth from pot into a small heavy saucepan and add tomato paste, whisking until smooth. Simmer, stirring, until thick, about 10 minutes, then stir in paprika, rose petals, and cayenne.
• Cook and serve couscous:
• Bring water to a boil with butter and salt in a 4-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in couscous, cover, and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Mound couscous on a platter and top with stew, using a slotted spoon. Serve broth and tomato sauce on the side.

Steps:

• Place lamb in a food storage bag. Combine the 7 spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle into the bag and seal bag. Shake and evenly coat the lamb pieces in the spices.
• Heat a large, deep skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, then the lamb. Sear the lamb and caramelize the meat all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the onions and garlic and cook 5 minutes more. Add the dates and 2 cups of chicken stock to the pan and cover. Cook 7 to 8 minutes more to plump the dates and soften the onions. Remove cover and adjust seasonings.
• During the last 5 minutes the lamb has to cook, melt butter and toast pine nuts. Add 2 cups stock and bring to a boil. Remove pan from heat, add couscous and cover pan. Let stand 5 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with fork.
• Serve lamb over couscous in shallow dishes and garnish with chopped scallions.

Steps:

• In a large flameproof casserole, heat 1 tablespoon (eyeball) of the oil.
• Add the lamb in batches and toss over high heat to brown it on all sides.
• Remove the lamb from the pan as it is browned.
• Wipe out the pan.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon (eyeball) of oil.
• Add the onion and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in the cinnamon, cumin, allspice, cayenne pepper and nutmeg.
• Cook for 30 seconds, stirring.
• Add the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add plenty of salt and pepper, to taste.
• Add the stock and return the meat to the pan.
• Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover the pan.
• Simmer the lamb for 1 hour.
• Stir in the raisins and their soaking liquid.
• Stir in the chickpeas.
• Cover the pan and cook for 30 minutes, or until the lamb is very tender.
• Add the parsley and cilantro to the lamb and taste for seasonings.
• Serve at once, ladled over the couscous.