Spinach And Chickpeas With Couscous Recipes

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS, SPINACH AND MINT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the spices. Stir together for about half a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and add the drained chickpeas, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add the tomato paste, the harissa and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender. Remove 1 cup of the broth to flavor the couscous.
• Reconstituting and steaming the couscous: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the couscous and salt to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the couscous and add the cup of broth you removed from the stew. Stir well, or moisten your fingers and rub the couscous with them to evenly distribute the oil and broth. Add enough water to cover by 1/2 inch and let sit for 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon or rub the couscous between your moistened thumbs and fingers, so that the couscous doesn't lump. The couscous will now be fairly soft; fluff it with a fork or with your hands. The traditional way to finish reconstituting the couscous is to place it above the simmering stew for 45 minutes. I find, however, that steaming it in a microwave results in perfectly fluffy couscous. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic and pierce the plastic with the tip of a paring knife. Heat at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully and allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plastic and fluff with forks or a spoon. Cover again with plastic and microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plastic as the couscous will be steamy. You can reconstitute the couscous a day ahead and reheat in the microwave shortly before serving.
• Shortly before serving, stir in the spinach and the mint. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. The stew should be spicy and flavorful. Serve the couscous in wide bowls or mound onto plates and top with the stew. Pass more harissa at the table.

CURRIED COUSCOUS WITH SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, sun-dried tomato, dill, and garlic; cook and stir until onions start to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in spinach, increase heat to medium high, and cook until spinach begins to wilt, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Pour in sherry and cook until most liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add curry powder, cayenne pepper, chickpeas, and 1 cup of the vegetable broth; cook for about 5 minutes. Add remaining broth and bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in couscous, and cover until couscous absorbs all the liquid, 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt.

CHICKPEAS WITH SPINACH (GREEK)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil until the onions are tender.
• Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, pepper flakes (to suit your taste), and oregano,and paprika.
• Cover and simmer for about 18 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add spinach and cook about 7 minutes longer, or until spinach is cooked.
• Add the lemon juice (I usually like to add the juice of about 1 1/2 lemons. Add the juice of 1 lemon, taste and adjust to your own, personal taste), salt and pepper.

CHICKPEAS WITH BABY SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, tomato paste and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring for one to two minutes, until fragrant and the tomato paste has turned a darker color. Add the chickpeas, the stock or water, and the cayenne, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring until each addition of spinach wilts. Add salt to taste and simmer uncovered, stirring often, for five minutes. Add lots of freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt and cayenne, and serve.

SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup broth in a large saucepan. Add onion, garlic and curry powder and saute until onion begins to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add remaining broth and spinach. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and black pepper, continue simmering until spinach is tender and chickpeas are heated through.
• Pour boiling water over couscous, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Divide couscous among bowls.
• Serve spinach-chickpea mixture over couscous.

SPICY SPINACH AND CHICKPEA CURRY SOUP WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium high heat. Saute the onion and garlic until soft and translucent (about 2 minutes). Add the cayenne pepper and stir to coat.
• Reduce heat to medium and add broth, tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas--drained and rinsed, and all the spices. Stir to combine and return to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for one hour or until chickpeas are softened.
• In a separate saucepan, bring water and oil, if using, to a boil. Stir in couscous and remove from heat. Cover and let sit for five minutes. Stir with a fork to fluff.
• Spread couscous in a bowl and top with the soup. Garnish with yogurt if you like.

CHICKPEA, SPINACH AND TOMATO COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and add the onions. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until onions are golden. Stir often.
• Add the garlic, spices and salt (not too much as the bouillon is also salted). Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and bouillon. Bring to a higher heat for about 3 minutes then let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce is flavorful but not too thick.
• Prepare the couscous grain according to package directions.
• Serve vegetables over warm couscous and decorate with fresh coriander. Enjoy!

CURRIED COUSCOUS, SPINACH, AND CHICKPEA WRAP

Steps:

• Toast the chopped walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, 2-4 minutes; set aside.
• Over medium heat, melt butter in a large non-stick skillet.
• Add in the onion and ginger; cook and stir for 3 minutes.
• Add in the curry and garlic; continue to cook and stir for 2 minutes (don't let the garlic get brown); remove from heat.
• Add in the chickpeas, couscous, salt, and 1 cup boiling water; stir.
• Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.
• Fluff couscous with a fork; add in walnuts and stir to combine.
• Lay out the tortillas; spread about 1 tablespoon chutney and 2 tablespoons yogurt over each tortilla.
• Cover each tortilla with about 5 spinach leaves.
• Spoon 1/4 of the couscous mixture onto each tortilla in a thick horizontal strip across the bottom third (leave about 1/2 inch border from the sides of the tortilla).
• Wrap up burrito-style (fold in the sides of the tortilla, then roll up bottom to top).
• Cut in half on the bias and serve immediately.