Happy Cous Cous to you!

Lately I have learned a lot about our country's cuisine. We just completed a cooking/market/foods language unit that culminated in a cooking class and feast at our language school, and recently a sweet lady I know offered to show me how to make cous cous at home.

I've been wanting to share some of these amazing recipes, but I'm having some issues. Every time I cook anything, I look at a recipe. I am lost without it even though I have made some things at least a hundred times (i.e. chocolate chip cookies :) ). I never realized how ridiculous this seems until I got weird looks for wanting to take time to write down recipes while learning how to cook here.

They don't use recipes here. Everything is just in their heads. So, I'm going to share a recipe, but fair warning a good deal of it is from my head. It could be dangerous...or a great culinary adventure...Either way, Happy Cous Cous to YOU!

-Rinse 2.5 cups cous cous...add a touch of water and let it soak while you do some vegetable and meat work...(if you do not have all of the vegetables I mention, it's ok. Also, if you want to add different vegetables, it's ok too!)

-Put .5 kilos leg of lamb in the bottom of the pan (you can use chicken, beef, or camel instead...or go vegetarian..all of these options would be keeping it North African)

-Chop one onion into quarters and put it on top of the lamb

-Chop 4 carrots into quarters and place on top

-Add .5 cup of hummus beans and .5 cup green mystery beans

Add the following:
1/3 cup tomato paste
3/4 cup water
1 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp. sweet paprika, 2 tbsp. harissa arabi
3 tbsp. olive oil

-Stir occasionally on medium-low heat 30 min. give or take ;)

- Add 2 whole peeled zucchinis, 3 medium sized pieces of pumpkin and one pealed potato cut in half

-Drain cous cous and place in a special pot contraption that looks like this:

I think it's pretty much like a steamer that you put on top of a pot...I've never seen one like this in America, but maybe a steamer could work?

-Cover it and place it on top of the vegetable pot. Cook for 30 min. Then cook it an additional 15 min. uncovered.

- place hand on top of cous cous...if it doesn't stick, it's done :)

- Add 2.5 tsp. black pepper and 1 tbsp. salt, also 1/2 cup water to the meat/vegetable mix.

-Mix it all together and Enjoy!

p.s. If anyone really wants to try this, we would love to send you some harissa that we sent back to the states with my mom. Trader Joe's might also have some because strangely enough I found Trader Joe's brand here!
p.s.s. It would make our hearts so happy to have a picture of you enjoying your cous cous if you are brave enough to take on the challenge...you might even get yourself a shout out on the blog!
Bon Appétit!