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You are here: Home / couscous / Michael Smith’s Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

Michael Smith’s Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

January 20, 2011 by Suzie the Foodie 7 Comments

Michael Smith's Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

Thanks to all of your support, I was runner up in the PEI Recipe Challenge for my seafood potato skins and won the cookbook The Best of Chef at Home by Michael Smith! As a result, I have been testing his recipes in my kitchen.

The other day it was so brutally cold that I just could not get out to pick up any ingredients and had to make something for lunch with ingredients I already had. I did not have regular couscous but I did have Israeli which I had never eaten before. I am not a big fan of regular couscous but was hoping that Israel couscous would win me over.

Michael Smith's Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

You know it is cold in Nova Scotia when it is actually sunny enough to light my kitchen with natural light! First, thanks to the fabulous photos in this book which you can kind of see via my cookbook holder, I could not help but be drawn to this recipe. Stunning photos!

Here is what you need:

2 tbsp of olive oil
1 onion, minced
few cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp powdered ginger
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
1 cup of couscous (I used Israeli)
1/2 cup of raisins
1/2 cup of dried apricots, sliced
2 cups of orange juice
zest and juice of 1 lemon
salt and pepper
1/2 cup of slivered almonds (I used hazelnuts)
1 handful of cilantro (I used flat leaf Italian parsley)

Michael Smith's Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

You begin by sauteing the garlic, onions and spices in some olive oil over medium-high heat for a few minutes.

Michael Smith's Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

Add the chickpeas, couscous, raisins, apricots, orange juice, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce to low and cover. Most Israeli couscous recipes say to cook it for 10-12 minutes which is what I did. Michael Smith used regular couscous and says to cook for about 15 minutes. Take off the stove and let sit another five minutes.

Michael Smith's Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

I added some chopped fresh flat leaf Italian parsley.

Michael Smith's Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

Make sure to sprinkle the top with some nuts, you really need that additional crunch because this dish gets very moist and soft. This is a great vegetarian option for people on a strict diet although remember, couscous is not a grain, it is a pasta! I have concluded that I much prefer Israeli couscous to the regular kind, it has much more appealing texture!
This dish is super flavourful but is on the too-sweet side for me. I knew ahead of time that it might be, the Moroccan dishes I have had in the past are usually more sweet than savoury but wow, lots of flavour! 

Michael Smith's Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

Not only that but this makes a TON of food for very little money. It made a great lunch on its own and I even reheated it for dinner when I made some easy and healthy curry chicken. My husband loved it, more than I did but he does not mind sweet food. It makes a great side dish with minimal effort and money.

If you like sweet savoury dishes I would give this a four and a half out of five wooden spoons. I personally do not like sweet savoury dishes so I personally could only give it three and a half out of five wooden spoons. I probably will make it again but I think I will use broth instead of orange juice, just too sweet!

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Filed Under: couscous, legumes, Michael Smith, Moroccan

Comments

  1. Emily B says

    January 20, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    Sounds yummy – I’m with you on the sweetness, I think I’d take your advice and go with broth instead of OJ. I don’t really care for the texture of ‘regular’ couscous, either, I will have to test out the pearl variety! Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂

    Reply
  2. Debra She Who Seeks says

    January 20, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    I’m not a big couscous fan either.

    Reply
  3. Tournesol says

    January 20, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    Looks really good!

    Reply
  4. Dan says

    January 20, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    Love the photo! I always love what Michael Smith cooks up!

    Reply
  5. Medeja says

    January 20, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    It’s nice dish, I think I would love it, but not sure about my husband :)) but im saving it 🙂

    Reply
  6. Katy Ionis says

    March 14, 2011 at 4:03 am

    i made it with regular cous cous and grapefruit juice. i liked it but next time would go lighter on the fruit.

    Reply
  7. Suzie Ridler says

    March 14, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    Katy, it does get very sweet doesn’t it? A little too sweet for me but thanks for letting me know it worked for regular couscous, I wasn’t sure.

    Reply

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