Couscous with Vegetables

🛒 Ingredients

• Medium grain couscous 30 g · 104 kcal
• Olive oil 6 g · 53 kcal
• Yellow onion 30 g · 12 kcal
• Garlic cloves 2 g · 3 kcal
• Carrots 40 g · 16 kcal
• Zucchini 40 g · 6 kcal
• Turnips 40 g · 11 kcal
• Butternut squash 40 g · 16 kcal
• Canned chickpeas, drained 40 g · 52 kcal
• Tomato paste 4 g · 3 kcal
• Vegetable broth 100 g · 4 kcal
• Mixed spices (cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, ginger, black pepper) 1 g · 3 kcal
• Fresh cilantro or parsley 1 g · 0 kcal

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables: Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Peel and cut carrots, turnips, and butternut squash into large, roughly 2-inch chunks. Cut the zucchini into slightly smaller chunks.
2. Sauté aromatics: In a large pot or the base of a couscoussier, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and mixed spices, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Build the stew: Stir in the tomato paste, then add the carrots, turnips, butternut squash, and drained chickpeas. Pour in the vegetable broth, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Simmer vegetables: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 20-30 minutes, until the harder vegetables begin to soften.
5. Prepare couscous: While the vegetables simmer, place the dry couscous in a large bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil, then rub between your fingers to separate the grains. Add an equal volume of hot water or vegetable broth, cover, and let sit for 5-10 minutes until all liquid is absorbed.
6. Finish vegetables and couscous: Add the zucchini to the vegetable stew and cook for another 10-15 minutes until all vegetables are tender. Fluff the couscous with a fork, then transfer it to the top steamer basket of the couscoussier (if using) and steam over the simmering vegetable stew for 10-15 minutes, or simply serve fluffy couscous alongside the stew.
7. Serve: Ladle the aromatic vegetable stew generously over or alongside the fluffy couscous. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve hot, optionally with harissa on the side for an extra kick.