My authentic Moroccan couscous is a colorful dish made with perfectly cooked couscous topped with lamb, stewed veggies and a flavorful broth. My family in Morocco make it every Friday as a way to gather together and pray. Keep reading for my brother Ahmed's tips for making this traditional dish on the stovetop without any special tools.
Recipe by Salima Benkhalti on February 1, 2022
Prep time: PT30M
Cook time: PT30M
Total time: PT1H
Rating
4.9 stars ( reviews)
Keywords
Moroccan Couscous, Couscous
Ingredients
2 ½ cups water
1 tsp olive oil
2 cups couscous
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb lamb shank or shoulder, cut into chunks
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp ginger
3 threads of saffron, bloomed with an ice cube (see note)
2 tsp paprika
1 yellow onion, diced
1 carrot, cubed
1 small eggplant, chopped into large chunks
2 zucchini, chopped into large chunks
1 cup chopped turnip, parsnip, or daikon, chopped into large chunks
2 tbsp parsley, minced
2 tbsp cilantro, minced
14oz can of tomato sauce
2 cups water or vegetable broth
1 tsp pepper flakes or jalapeño pepper
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
Categories
Dinner
Cuisine
Moroccan
Steps
In a medium pot, make your couscous according to directions on the package. Bring the water to a boil in the pot with the olive oil before tossing in the couscous, covering and move off the burner completely. Let it sit covered for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork, covering and setting aside.
In a separate large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and brown the lamb chunks on all sides before tossing in the onion, bloomed saffron, and seasonings. Sauté until translucent before tossing in the cubed carrots and root veggies and cooking for a couple minutes.
Once the carrots begins to soften, toss in the zucchini and eggplant. Sauté for another couple minutes before adding minced herbs, tomato sauce and water. Cook over medium heat, slightly covered until all vegetables are cooked through and lamb reaches an internal temperature of 145 (about 20 minutes).
Add in the garbanzo beans and mix thoroughly, continuing to cook just until they are warm and evenly incorporated. Serve the couscous first, then top carefully with vegetables, finally pouring the broth over the top. Garnish with additional cilantro, parsley, and serve with extra bowls of broth.
Reviews
Cary on 2023-06-06 (5 stars): This is delicious.
But when I lived in Morocco, there were a lot of variations to this. I lived in Rabat (in the north). It definitely varies regionally.
Most people make it with chicken, not lamb.
Most recipes are without tomato sauce. I think that's a regional thing too?
Everyone adds turmeric. I never had couscous without turmeric!
Barley couscous is becoming increasingly popular.
What happened to the soaked raisins? ;-)
Martin on 2022-12-20 (5 stars): This was an amazing very homestyle recipe. Truly delicious. The olive oil in the water for the couscous did the trick!
More people should see and try this recipe!
Karol on 2023-01-22 (5 stars): Just finished dinner, and my goodness! It was AMAZING and DELICIOUS! A huge hit with the family. I have been looking for a Couscous recipe ever since I fell in love with it while traveling to Marrakech. I thought I wouldn't be able to make it, since I don't have a couscoussier, but your recipe and instructions were perfect! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Our family will be enjoying it for many years to come🇲🇦❤️💚❤️
Michaela on 2023-02-06 (4 stars): So I thought this recipe was amazing with the exception of the pepper. Next time I cut it in half. I made a triple batch and unfortunately a little to spicy for the kids
Morgane on 2023-05-17 (5 stars): I have had authentic one plenty of times in Morocco but this recipe is absolutely amazing, it’s as good as the ones I had before if not even better! Thank you!
Dominique on 2024-01-11 (5 stars): Hi, I'm dying to try this recipe because I adore couscous. Can you please confirm - when you say "tomato sauce" do you mean like a can of Mutti Tomato Sauce (Salsa Di Pomodoro)? Just want to check - I'm in the UK so it might seem obvious but I just want to make sure there is no mistakes made in the translation. :-)
Alex Gray on 2024-02-28 (5 stars): I've made and had several couscous recipes, including a lot in Marrakech. Of the homemade dishes, this is easily the best; I did vary it to include 7 vegetables (and those dried raisins) because I was making a vegetarian version. I was surprised by the lack of spices in the recipe, though, so I added ras-el-hanout, with a little more ginger. Overall though, by far the best recipe I've tried to make couscous with, and perfect if you have a meat eater to just fry a couple of merguez sausages and have a meal that satisfies everyone.
Daniel on 2024-05-21 (5 stars): Very nice, thanks
My guest is that you are American marocain, because you are using the arquaic british mesure system.
I appreciate your receipe, because there no good Maghreb restaurant in Ottawa
Daniel
Amanda on 2024-06-27 (5 stars): This dish is like a cozy hug!
Maria on 2024-09-20 (5 stars): Beautiful. Thanky for your inspiration! I made a plant-based version. Delicious! And I like the "one plate everyone spoons from there" way of serving :-) It totally suits our household!
Sean G on 2024-12-12 (5 stars): Fabulous! I made this tonight for my father-in-law's heavenly birthday. He was born in and passed away in Morroco. My French wife and mother-in-law were very impressed. It also was a very easy recipe to follow, considering it was my first attempt at making an authentic Morrocan couscous.
Anthony L Jones on 2025-01-19 (5 stars): I made this for an international dinner party I attended last night. I doubled the ingredients and it was a huge hit! I personally can't stop eating the leftovers! I even got a text message today from folks wishing they had taken more home.
I'm really happy I discovered this recipe and this site.
Absolutely delicious!
seb on 2025-02-09 (5 stars): i love this recipe!
vsey convenient and all the family loved it
Zach J on 2025-08-05 (5 stars): This was OUTSTANDING. I spent a summer living in El Jadida and traveling around Morocco and this dish brought me all the way back. Many wonderful memories. Thank you.