Name: Couscous with Lamb Stew
Yield: Makes 8 to 10 servings
Ingredients: 2 lb boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes; 1/4 cup olive oil; 3 large onions, thinly sliced; 8 large tomatoes (4 1/2 lb), peeled, quartered, and seeded; 4 cups canned tomato juice; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 fresh habanero or cayenne chile, finely chopped, including seeds; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary; 1 bay leaf (not California); Pinch of saffron threads; 4 carrots, sliced 1/2 inch thick; 4 turnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-wide wedges; 3 red or green bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch pieces; 1 lb pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes; 1 1/2 lb zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise 1 1/2 inches thick; 1 (19-oz) can chickpeas (about 2 cups), rinsed, drained, and skins slipped off; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1 tablespoon crushed dried rose petals (pesticide-free; optional)*; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste; 4 cups water; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 (10-oz) boxes quick-cooking couscous (3 1/2 cups)

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Couscous with Lamb Stew

Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 3 1/2 hr

This recipe, which accompanied our 1954 article on Tunisia, called for what were then two very exotic ingredients. One, the granular pasta called couscous, is now commonplace in supermarkets across America. The other, dried rose petals, is available by mail order.

Cooks' Note

*Available by mail order from Kalustyan's (212) 685-3451.

Recipe information

Yield
Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

For lamb stew

2 lb boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes

1/4 cup olive oil

3 large onions, thinly sliced

8 large tomatoes (4 1/2 lb), peeled, quartered, and seeded

4 cups canned tomato juice

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 fresh habanero or cayenne chile, finely chopped, including seeds

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 bay leaf (not California)

Pinch of saffron threads

4 carrots, sliced 1/2 inch thick

4 turnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-wide wedges

3 red or green bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 lb pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 1/2 lb zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise 1 1/2 inches thick

1 (19-oz) can chickpeas (about 2 cups), rinsed, drained, and skins slipped off

For spicy tomato sauce

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon crushed dried rose petals (pesticide-free; optional)*

1/2 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste

For couscous

4 cups water

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon salt

2 (10-oz) boxes quick-cooking couscous (3 1/2 cups)

Preparation

Make lamb stew:
Step 1
Pat lamb dry. Heat oil in a 7- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown lamb in 3 batches, transferring to a bowl.
Step 2
Add onions to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in lamb with any juices that have accumulated in bowl, tomatoes, tomato juice, salt, black pepper, chile, herbs, and saffron and simmer, covered, 1 1/2 hours.
Step 3
Stir in carrots, turnips, bell peppers, and pumpkin and simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Stir in zucchini and chickpeas and simmer, covered, until zucchini is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
Make spicy tomato sauce:
Step 4
Pour 1 cup broth from pot into a small heavy saucepan and add tomato paste, whisking until smooth. Simmer, stirring, until thick, about 10 minutes, then stir in paprika, rose petals, and cayenne.
Cook and serve couscous:
Step 5
Bring water to a boil with butter and salt in a 4-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in couscous, cover, and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Mound couscous on a platter and top with stew, using a slotted spoon. Serve broth and tomato sauce on the side.

Recipe information

Ingredients

For lamb stew

For spicy tomato sauce

For couscous

Preparation

Make lamb stew:

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Make spicy tomato sauce:

Step 4

Cook and serve couscous:

Step 5

Recipe notes