Lentils and Couscous

"This superb North African favorite with the combination of aromatic spices and crisp brown onion adding a real spark to the subtle flavors of the lentils and couscous."
 
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photo by Iceland photo by Iceland
photo by Iceland
photo by Chef PotPie photo by Chef PotPie
photo by Debbie R. photo by Debbie R.
Ready In:
1hr 5mins
Ingredients:
11
Serves:
6
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ingredients

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directions

  • Place the lentils in a medium saucepan. Add garlic, spices and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking time.
  • While lentils are cooking, bring the 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in couscous, cover, and set aside for 15 minutes.
  • Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is nicely browned, about 10 minutes.
  • Add lentils to skillet and mix well. Remove and discard bay leaf.
  • Serve lentils over couscous.

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Reviews

  1. This was okay, but bland, which surprised me with all that garlic. I cooked the onions for 15 minutes on medium, and they still weren't browned enough to add the flavor that I think they should have. Definitely start the onions when you start cooking the lentils. If they get done before the lentils, you can always just hold them until the lentils are done. For full flavor, you're going to want them fully browned and not only on the edges like I did. ZWT6
     
  2. We liked this! We mixed it with Chicken and Couscous and used Isreali couscous and about a teaspoon of red pepper flakes for the heat. Very good!
     
  3. Simple to make and filling! Reminded me of another version of megadarrah. Added closer to a scant one half teaspoon of cinnamon. Next time I'll use half of whole cinnamon for more intense flavor. Cooked the onions a solid fifteen minutes with a pinch of sugar to get them really caramelized. Israeli couscous for standard, sprinkle of salt, and a garnish of fresh cilantro. The leftovers were made into a burrito/wrap for my husband's lunch along with the rest of the meal: basic roasted asparagus and Recipe #170506. It was a tasty North African/Scandinavian meal! Reviewed for ZWT #6.
     
  4. I loved the combination of those flavors! So easy and cheap and still a journey to the middle east and back again. Thank you so much for sharing, made during ZWT6.
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>6/6/11- We bought another old house in Michigan at the end of January, with more room, but still with a small kitchen - lol! I did spend three months renovating the kitchen and it is very retro. It is bigger than the hobbit house kitchen, but still small. I also finished another degree - this time in small business and am now currently working full time on my small mobile art&nbsp;business. I sometimes miss working with the elderly as a mental health therapist, but for the time being I am doing what I had always wanted to do for many years. Plus I am enjoying fixing up my new old house.</p> <p>1/1/11 - Just a quick update on my profie, considering its been a few years since I updated. I still love to cook and we are currently looking for a new house, preferably another old house, but one with a larger kitchen. I have recently had some GI issues which are causing me to look differently at food. In the next few months you will start to see me post some new recipes that will be good, healthy and appropriate to those who suffer from digestive problems and IBS.</p> <p>I live in Michigan at this time, but have lived in several different states and countries. I like to cook and have recently been striving to cook healthy. I am an artist and therapist by profession. I enjoy walking, reading and making cards. I am also presently working on another degree to add to my collection of two bachelors and two masters degrees. The latest challenge is an online degree in small business management. <br /><br />I believe I probably cook in one of the smallest kitchens around. We live in an official bungalow, is even listed on the national registry. However, bungalow must mean very small, we nicknamed our house the hobbit house. The kitchen is equipped with a 1929 mini stove, limited pot space on the stove. We recently got a new refrigerator - almost standard size, except shorter - the old coil on the outside one died. I have so little room, I store the majority of my cooking items and can goods in the basement. My challenge is to be the best chef I can, despite my cooking environment. Some day I will have my dream kitchen, in the meantime, it is a snap to reach from the sink, to the stove, to the frig.! <br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/calendar%20clips/Copyofsoybean.jpg border=0 alt=tag /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/adoptedspring08.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5249/bookmarkmagnetswapapr20vs1.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-11/484938/MayFlowerssticker.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/peacefulnightdove/memdaych.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><img src=http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w115/bugh8er/food%20and%20swaps/signature5.gif border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><img src=http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2/kiwidutch/My-3-Chefs%20banners/my3chefs2008Small.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Zaar%20World%20Tour%204/ZWTAB-tg.gif alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/bilby-1.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m445/mliss29/vegnswap1/group07kiwi.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w115/bugh8er/food%20and%20swaps/4811_24074.png border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><img src=http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/Erica-1-1.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><a href=http://photobucket.com target=_blank><img src=http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w115/bugh8er/food%20and%20swaps/cws3.png border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /></a><a href=http://photobucket.com target=_blank><img src=http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w115/bugh8er/food%20and%20swaps/9dcd2f11.png border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /></a><a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=220958><img src=http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q23/vseward/Bevy/beveragetagcookbook1.gif alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/HokiesLady65/totmtaggame-1.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PACfall08partic.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/IWasAdoptedfall08.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /></a><a href=http://photobucket.com target=_blank><img src=http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w115/bugh8er/food%20and%20swaps/Purple-Swap-AM-Banner.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><img src=http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/bella_donata/My%20Art/Recipezaar/goldsparkle.png border=0 alt=Made /> <br /><img src=http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/picwJT0Wr-1.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/CookbookParticipation.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/pic5BTaSK-1.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr336/jess4freedom/Zaar%20banners/saltpepper_amtag.jpg border=0 alt=Salt /> <br /><img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Iwasadopted.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Participation.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w115/bugh8er/food%20and%20swaps/4811_127226.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /> <object width=400 height=300 data=http://w490.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/Acadia/d065f045.pbw type=application/x-shockwave-flash> <param name=data value=http://w490.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/Acadia/d065f045.pbw /> <param name=src value=http://w490.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/Acadia/d065f045.pbw /> <param name=wmode value=transparent /> </object> <br /></a><a href=http://photobucket.com target=_blank><img src=http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w115/bugh8er/4th%20of%20July/4811_126789.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /></a><a href=http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/MidwestMaven/?action=view?t=spoiledpetswap09partbanner.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/MidwestMaven/spoiledpetswap09partbanner.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <br /><img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/ParticipationBanner.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2/kiwidutch/my3chefs2009final-1.jpg alt=/ /> <br /><img src=http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/af225/z_fbp/ZaarFBPwk16.jpg alt=/ /></a><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/calendar%20clips/cookbookswap.jpg border=0 alt=/ /></p>
 
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