Couscous with Crispy Onion
Introduction
Serves: 4
Ingredients
300ml (just over 10 fl oz) boiling water
1½ Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and sliced
2 wedges preserved lemon
2 Tbsp golden raisins, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes, drained
Few pinches (⅛ tsp) ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp allspice
¼ tsp chilli powder
¼ cup shelled and skinned pistachio nuts
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp regular salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 Tbsp chopped mint
¼ cup pomegranate seeds
Method
1 Put couscous in a china bowl and pour over boiling water. Stir once, then cover with a plate and leave for 10 minutes. Fluff up with a fork, cover again and cool.
2 Heat olive oil in a medium-sized frying pan (skillet) over medium heat and add onion. Lower the heat as soon as cooking commences, and cook gently for 25-40 minutes, stirring often. If you hurry this process the onion will burn before it is tender, and a harsh flavour will develop. Slow and steady, with regular stirring, is the way to go to produce a good golden colour.
3 Rinse preserved lemon wedges under running water, dislodge pulp and discard, then pat rind dry and slice finely. Add preserved lemon and raisins to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in spices, cook through for 1 minute, then stir in pistachio nuts.
4 Whisk extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper together and pour over couscous. Mix with a fork. Add three-quarters of the spiced onion mixture and fold through with the mint and most of the pomegranate seeds. Pile couscous into a serving bowl and garnish with remaining spiced onion and pomegranate seeds. Serve.