Moroccan Lamb Sausage with Golden Raisin Couscous

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I thought I had escaped the annual curse, but I just can't beat back the wanderlust that overcomes me at this time of year. It's the kind of yearning that a day trip to the coast or mountains simply will not cure. So, I pull out the travel brochures and the unrequited wish lists from years past, and the Silver Fox and I spend hours charting the course for yet another adventure. Our destination this year will be North Africa and the Middle East, but the specific areas we'll be visiting are completely dependent on the political climate come next fall. In the meantime, I'll be delving into the cooking of the region, so the food we encounter won't come as a complete surprise to us. I've made the recipe I'm featuring tonight several times, and it has much to commend it. It is fast, easy and relatively inexpensive. Better still, I think you'll find the spicy lamb sausage, called Merguez, to be absolutely delicious. I found the recipe for the lamb patties in an old issue of Gourmet magazine, and I think you'll find it to be is straight forward and hard to spoil. I do, however, have one caution to share with you. It is easy to overcook the lamb and you don't want to do that. The time listed in the recipe below will give you medium rare lamb patties, but I aim for something pinker, so I cut the cooking time from 9 to 7 minutes. The raisin-couscous is a perfect foil for the spicy and juicy lamb and the entire meal can be on the table in about 30 minutes. If, like me, you tire of repetition and enjoy sampling food from other regions, I hope you'll give this recipe a try. You will not regret it. Most of you will be able to find harissa in large grocery stores, but should you have to make it, I have a recipe for you HERE. Here's how this simple flavor packed meal is made. Enjoy!

Merguez Lamb Patties with Golden Raisin Couscous...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Andrea Albin and Gourmet magazine

Ingredients:
1-1/4 teaspoons fennel seeds
1-1/4 pounds ground lamb
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons harissa (spicy North African condiment)
1-1/4 teaspoons ground cumin
1-1/4 teaspoons ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1-1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or water
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 cup couscous
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Zest of 1 lemon

Directions:
1) Toast fennel seeds in a small heavy skillet over medium heat until fragrant and a shade darker, about 1 minute. Grind to a fine powder in grinder.
2) Mix together lamb, garlic, harissa, spices (including fennel), and 1/2 teaspoon salt thoroughly with your hands (do not overmix). Form into 4 oval patties (about 3/4 inch thick).
3) Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook patties, turning once, about 9 minutes total for medium-rare.
4) While patties cook, bring broth, raisins, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, then stir in couscous. Let stand off heat, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork; stir in cilantro, zest, and salt to taste. Serve patties on couscous. Yield: 4 servings.








One Year Ago Today: White Chocolate  and Raspberry Cheesecake













Two Years Ago Today: Lemon Chicken with Capers and Penne Pasta














Three Years Ago Today: French Breakfast Puffs















Four Years Ago Today: Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary

Couscous and Cranberry Salad

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is a really simple chop and chill salad. It was originally developed for picnics and al fresco meals, but I've recently started to use it for covered dish suppers and winter buffets. There is always a lot going on in my kitchen and various commitments have created a real need for dishes that are fast and simple to prepare. If you lead a busy life and are looking for recipes that will make your life easier, I think you really will enjoy this flavorful salad. Here's the recipe.

Couscous and Cranberry Salad...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 package plain couscous
1 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped green onions
3/4 cup chopped sweet yellow or red pepper
3/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
1) Prepare couscous according to package directions. Transfer to a large bowl; fluff with a fork. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until chilled. Stir in cranberries, onions, yellow pepper and almonds.
2) Whisk lemon juice, oil, paprika, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Yield: 14 servings.









One Year Ago Today: Zucchini Muffins















Two Years Ago Today: Bierstube Pork with Noodles









You might also enjoy these recipes:
Green Israeli Couscous Salad- Joy the Baker
Corn and Radish Couscous Salad - Simply Life
Basil Couscous Cakes - Deelicious Sweets
Zucchini Couscous Salad - Beloved Green
Tunisian Couscous - The Kitchen Witch

Couscous with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...While I love to shop in warehouse stores, I limit my visits to them, to once or twice a month. The reason is simple. I'm infirm of purpose and constitutionally incapable of leaving them until I've spent the equivalent of a king's ransom. My weakness can be found in the food aisles. The store I frequent has gorgeous meat and fish and I'm lured by steaks and chops as surely as Jason was by the siren's song. My indulgence this past weekend was double cut lamb chops that I had purchased for a special dinner. While I had a lovely pilaf to accompany them, I also wanted to try a recipe for a Greek-style couscous that's been on my radar for a while now. I'm a poor judge of recipes like this because I don't like the texture of couscous, but I knew I could trust the opinions of my guests who neither share nor understand my aversion. The couscous was well-received, so I'm comfortable sharing this fast and flavorful dish with you. If you like couscous, I suspect you'll enjoy it prepared in this way. Here's the recipe.

Couscous with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Taste of Home Magazine

Ingredients:
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) vegetable broth
1-1/4 cups uncooked couscous
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions:
1) Place sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl. Cover with boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes.
2) Meanwhile, bring broth to a boil in a small saucepan. Sir in couscous. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes, or until broth is absorbed.
3) Drain and chop tomatoes. Add to couscous. Stir in feta cheese, parsley, oregano, lemon juice, water and olive oil. Serve warm or chilled. Yield: 6 servings.








One Year Ago Today: Lime Marmalade
















Two Years Ago Today: Watermelon Rind Pickles







You might also enjoy these recipes:
Couscous with Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini - The Flourishing Foodie
Couscous Salad - A Little Bit of Everything
Recipe for Whole Wheat Couscous with Saffron and Onions - Kalyn's Kitchen
Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts - Sugar and Spice by Celeste
Mediterranean Couscous - Karma Cuisine

Orange Couscous with Cinnamon Vinaigrette

About a year ago the Florida Department of Citrus sponsored a "Back to the Grove Recipe Contest." The only requirement was that the recipe use a cup of Florida orange juice. How hard could that be? I, and lots of other amateur recipe developers, decided to go for the Florida gold. I worked diligently on a recipe that I hoped would take the prize. That, alas, was not the case, but I was so intrigued by the recipe that did win that I decided to make it. To my surprise, my husband, who is not a fan of couscous, liked the dish. The couscous had the added advantage of being table ready in ten minutes. This is a boon for busy cooks and it's a great accompaniment for plain grilled meat or poultry. It's also fancy enough to serve to guests. This is simple to do, inexpensive to make and a treat for tired palates. If you like couscous give this a try.

Orange Couscous with Cinnamon Vinaigrette

Ingredients:
1 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup couscous
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts or almonds
1/2 cup chopped scallions (white and tender green)

Directions:
1) Place orange juice and salt in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil; stir in couscous. Remove pan from heat. Cover; let stand for 5 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with a fork. Set aside.
2) Meanwhile, place olive oil, vinegar and cinnamon in a jar with a lid. Cover and shake until emulsified. Set aside.
3) Add raisins, nuts and scallions to couscous. Add vinaigrette and stir gently until combined. Pack into molds if desired. Serve at room temperature. Yield: 4 servings.

Recipe developed by Kelly Boe for the Florida Department of Citrus.