Couscous is not one of my favorite things. I think it was because of all the West African Mechoui(s) (Mutton stuffed with couscous) I attended for receptions, births, marriages or whenever anyone wanted to celebrate anything. The really elegant Mechoui(s) had numerous stuffed sheep staked vertically around the lawn reception areas. 10-15 people would gather around each sheep and pull off bits of mutton and stuffing with their hands. I will never forget the sound of the stakes and bones as they hit the ground when each mutton was completely consumed. This took about 15 minutes or less. It was like a rapid locust fly by. In addition, as I took a polite handful of the mechoui, there was always the chance of raisin surprise that I did not adore 🙁
Anyway, cruising around the net I saw a number of sites mentioning “cauliflower couscous.” Sounded like a good compromise since everyone else in the family does like couscous and also cauliflower. I added some saffron for color and substituted pomegranate seeds for the raisins. The meal was a little more labor intensive than I had bargained for but well worth it.
I did have a little “souci” with steaming the cauliflower. Unlike Roger the Lucky with his couscous steamer, all I had was a dumpling steamer, lined with cabbage leaves that was not doing the job of steaming and heating the cauliflower after 15 minutes. I ended up just emptying the bottom of the steamer of water and dumping the cauliflower in with a little broth to steam in a perhaps inelegant, but satisfactory manner. Envy is a sin.
Moroccan Style Tajine Chicken with Cauliflower Couscous
2 tbsp ghee
1 large onion, diced
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 small head cabbage, chopped
2 tbsp chicken broth
1 1/2 cup chaos cut carrots, lightly steamed
1 head of cauliflower, separated into florets and food processed into couscous like grains
1 capsule saffron
Salt
Pepper
1/2 cup chicken broth
Pomegranate seeds
1 whole chicken, quartered and seasoned with salt and pepper
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp each, ground coriander, cumin, cinnamon and turmeric
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch piece ginger, minced
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp lemon
To make the couscous: Cook the onions and garlic in the ghee until the onions are translucent. Add the cabbage and saute for about 3 minutes, then add the chicken broth, cover and steam until the cabbage is tender. Mix in the carrots, cauliflower, saffron, salt and pepper. Add the the 1/2 cup of chicken broth and steam for 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds before serving.
For the chicken: Mix together the paprika, coriander, cumin, cinnamon and tumeric, then rub into the chicken. Brown the chicken in the olive oil, then remove from the pan and put into the bottom of a tajine. Add the onion, garlic and ginger to the pan and saute until the vegetables are soft. Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, honey and lemon. Bring to a boil and reduce for about 5 minutes, then pour over the chicken.
Place the chicken into a 400 F oven and cook covered for 1 hour.
Wine suggestion: Brouilly
I love your blog – it’s made me hungry! I’m new to wordpress so would love it if you checked out mine and told me what you think. Have a great day xxx
Thank you Tansies. I certainly will.
xxx
That looks beautiful – it really does. Gorgeous!
Thank you Frugal.
Sounds delicious – I hate the raisin surprise too 😉
Raisins stick in my throat 🙂
On the other hand, that’s a pretty funky dumpling steamer…..if you happened to be steaming dumplings:)
It is perfect for dumplings. But I need a couscous steamer 🙂
Yeah, there’s recently been this trend going round with cauliflower couscous. In much the same way, you can make a pizza using the cauliflower for the crust http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2013/08/cauliflower-crust-pizza/
Other food cultures fascinate me. What was the thought process to stake sheep vertically with stuffing I wonder.
Sheep are cooked on stakes around a central fire with the cooks turning them for hours. Simple process, after they are done, to re-stake them at a reception 🙂
What a sight.
It was.
Chicken recipe sounds yummy and I happen to LIKE raisins in my Afghan/Moroccan rice. I also LOVE cauliflower so I will be tring this one ASAP! DON’T like the sounds of the “vertical” sheep or mutton in any form. Interesting story though……..always enjoy your stories!!!
Thank you. Sheep along with raisins were not my favorite, but cultural sensitivity was involved.
So colorful!
Thank you Greg.
Looks gorgeous and although I like raisins, I much prefer couscous with pomegranate! No steamer at all here. now I want one too 🙂
Thank you. We should all have a couscous steamer 🙂 I’m getting one!
I’m going through a couscous obsession right now, so I totally have to make this. Awesome recipe! 🙂
Thank you Megan.