Description
Moroccan couscous with roast vegetables brings Mediterranean warmth to your dinner table. Fragrant spices and tender roasted veggies create a delightful harmony that transports you to North African culinary landscapes, promising a delicious journey in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 yellow bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 zucchini (sliced)
- 2 carrots (sliced)
- 1 red onion (sliced)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon ground coriander
- 0.5 teaspoon turmeric
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Couscous and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup couscous (whole wheat)
- 1 cup water or vegetable broth
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.5 cup canned chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 0.25 cup toasted almonds (chopped)
- 0.25 cup dried apricots or raisins (chopped)
- Fresh parsley or cilantro (chopped)
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C), preparing for vegetable roasting.
- Distribute bell peppers, zucchini, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and carrots across a spacious baking sheet.
- Generously coat vegetables with olive oil and dust with aromatic spices including cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, salt, and pepper.
- Ensure vegetables are evenly seasoned and spread in a single layer for optimal caramelization.
- Roast for 25-30 minutes, rotating midway, until vegetables develop tender edges and golden-brown highlights.
- Simultaneously, bring water or vegetable broth to a rolling boil in a medium pot, adding a pinch of salt.
- Remove pot from heat, introduce couscous, and seal with a tight-fitting lid, allowing grains to absorb liquid for precisely 5 minutes.
- Liberate couscous with a fork, introducing a drizzle of olive oil to enhance texture and prevent clumping.
- Merge roasted vegetables with fluffy couscous in a generous mixing bowl.
- Enhance the dish with protein-rich chickpeas, crunchy toasted almonds, and sweet dried fruit for complex flavor dimensions.
- Gently integrate ingredients, fine-tuning seasoning to personal preference.
- Crown the dish with vibrant fresh parsley or cilantro, accompanying with zesty lemon wedges.
- Present as a standalone meal or complementary side, embracing Moroccan culinary traditions.
Notes
- Enhance vegetable caramelization by cutting them into similar-sized pieces to ensure even roasting and consistent texture.
- Customize spice blend according to personal preference, experimenting with different combinations like ras el hanout or za’atar for authentic Moroccan flavor profiles.
- Make the dish gluten-free by substituting couscous with quinoa or cauliflower rice, maintaining the vibrant Mediterranean essence while accommodating dietary restrictions.
- Boost protein content by adding grilled chicken, tofu, or additional legumes like lentils, transforming this recipe into a more substantial and nutritionally balanced meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Moroccan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg