Ras El Hanout Couscous

Transform your weeknight dinners with this vibrant and aromatic Ras El Hanout Couscous recipe! Infused with the warm, complex flavors of the Ras El Hanout spice blend, this dish is a celebration of North African cuisine. Fluffy couscous serves as the perfect base, while tender sautéed carrots and zucchini, protein-packed chickpeas, and sweet golden raisins create a delightful medley of textures and flavors. A finishing touch of fresh herbs, zesty lemon, and toasted almonds elevates this versatile dish, making it ideal as a hearty main or a flavorful side. Ready in just 35 minutes, this recipe is a quick, wholesome option packed with vibrant spices and fresh ingredients. Serve it warm, chilled, or at room temperature for a meal that’s as flexible as it is delicious! Keywords: Ras El Hanout recipe, couscous dish, North African couscous, easy couscous recipe, vegetarian couscous.

Nutriscore Rating: 74/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1.25 cups water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1.5 teaspoons Ras el Hanout spice blend
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 medium zucchini
• 1 cup chickpeas (cooked or canned, drained and rinsed)
• 0.25 cup golden raisins
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 0.25 cup almonds (toasted and roughly chopped)
• 0.25 teaspoons black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring 1.25 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 0.5 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of Ras el Hanout spice blend. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of couscous to the water. Cover with a lid and let it sit for 5 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, dice the carrot and zucchini into small cubes. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced carrot and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 3

Add the zucchini to the skillet and cook for an additional 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Stir in 0.5 teaspoons of Ras el Hanout spice blend and cook for another minute. Remove from heat.

Step 4

Fluff the couscous with a fork and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add the sautéed vegetables, 1 cup of chickpeas, and 0.25 cups of golden raisins to the couscous. Mix gently to combine.

Step 5

Finely chop the parsley and mint. Add 2 tablespoons of each to the bowl along with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, and 0.25 teaspoons of black pepper. Toss to combine.

Step 6

Top the couscous with 0.25 cups of toasted, roughly chopped almonds for added crunch. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or lemon juice as desired.

Step 7

Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled for a versatile, aromatic dish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1064.5 grams (1064.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	943

Total Fat 22.40g	29%
Saturated Fat 2.10g	11%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.30g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3733mg	162%
Total Carbohydrate 160.60g	58%
Dietary Fiber 30.00g	107%
Total Sugars 54.80g
Protein 36.90g	74%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 407mg	31%
Iron 14mg	77%
Potassium 2083mg	44%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 20.3%

Protein: 14.9%

Carbs: 64.8%