Do you ever want to eat couscous but can’t find a North African restaurant near you? Homemade couscous is the way to go. Couscous grains can be found at most grocery stores in the PNW.

Ingredients for about 6 people

  • 2 cups of medium grain couscous
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • ½ cup of black-eyed peas
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 onion
  • Vegetable broth or water
  • 2 vegetable stock cubes
  • 3 carrots
  • 1 turnip
  • 3 celery sticks
  • 3 zucchini
  • 2 potatoes

How to steam couscous

  • Add water into the bottom of the couscous steamer and boil.
  • Mix thoroughly 2 cups of couscous grains with salt and a TBSP of olive oil.
  • Add 2 cups of cold water and let absorb before mixing.
  • Mix gently until the grains are well separated.
  • Transfer the couscous grains into the top of the couscous steamer, steam without a lid.
  • After 15 minutes, transfer the couscous grains into a large bowl.
  • Add 2 cups of cold water and let absorb before mixing.
  • Mix gently until the grains are well separated.
  • Steam a second time.
  • After 15 minutes, transfer the couscous grains into the large bowl.
  • Add butter and mix well.

How to prepare couscous sauce

  • Place the black-eyed peas in a small pan, cover with water and boil for 2 minutes.
  • Remove the black-eyed peas from heat and let soak.
  • Peel the vegetables and cut into large pieces.
  • Use a mixer to blend the tomato into juice.
  • Peel and chop the onion.
  • In a large pan, cook the chopped onion in 1-2 TBSP of heated olive oil.
  • Add the tomato juice and vegetable broth, enough to cover all the vegetables.
  • Add salt, pepper and 2 vegetable stock cubes and heat up before adding vegetables.
  • Add the carrots, turnip and celery.
  • After 5 to 10 minutes, add the potatoes and zucchini, cook without smashing the vegetables.
  • About 5 minutes before the end of cooking, drain the black-eyed peas and add them into the sauce.

Serve the couscous in a dome shape, add the sauce on top before decorating with the vegetables, then enjoy.