Couscous With Lamb, Onions and Raisins
- 2½ cups couscous
- 2½ cups warm water
- ½ to 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sunflower or vegetable oil
- ½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter
- 2 pounds boned shoulder or leg of lamb
- 2½ pounds onions
- salt and black pepper
- ½ to 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 4 whole cloves
- ½ teaspoon saffron threads or powder
- 1/3 stick (2½ tablespoons) butter
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons clear honey
- 1 cup raisins, soaked in water for 20 minutes
- 1 cup blanched almonds
Instructions:
The special feature of this dish is the exquisite mix of caramelized onions, honey, and raisins called tfaya , which is served as a topping to the long-cooked, deliciously tender meat.
- Prepare the meat broth in a large pan. Put in the meat, with about ½ pound onions, chopped, and cover with 7½ cups water. Bring to the boil and remove the scum. Add salt and pepper, the ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the cloves. Simmer for 1½ hours. At this point, add the saffron and more water, if necessary, and simmer for another 30 minutes, or until the meat is so tender you can pull it apart with your fingers.
- At the same time, prepare the honeyed onion tfaya. Cut the remaining onions in half and slice them. Put them in a pan with 1 cup water. Put the lid on and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, until the onions are very soft. Remove the lid and cook further, until the liquid has evaporated. Add the butter and oil and cook until the onions are golden. Stir in the honey and the remaining 1½ teaspoons cinnamon, the drained raisins, and a pinch of salt. Continue cooking for another 10 minutes, or until the onions caramelize and become brown.
- Fry the almonds in a drop of oil until golden, turning them over, then drain on paper towels. Coarsely chop about half of them.
- About 20 to 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, put the couscous in the oven, preheated to 400°F, and heat through until it is steaming hot, fluffing it with a fork after about 10 minutes. Before serving, fork the butter, cut into small pieces, into the couscous and again fluff up the couscous as it melts in.
- To serve, moisten the couscous with a ladle of broth and mix in the chopped almonds, and leave it in the baking dish or turn it onto a large, round platter; shape it into a mound and make a wide shallow hollow in the center. Put the meat in the hollow, cover with the onion and raisin tfaya, and sprinkle with the remaining whole, fried almonds. Serve the broth separately.