A Moroccan Feast for Two

I think I have found another favorite that I will be cooking more often; the 7 Vegetable Stew and Cous Cous meal. Simply delicious, simple and hearty especially for colder climates. Last week was my partner's birthday and I decided to make something different and chanced upon Moroccan food. Although I was very tempted to try their preserved lemon chicken cooked in traditional tajins, I was set back by several factors, 1) I did not have a Tajin, 2) I didn't have any preserved lemons and 3) my partner is vegetarian.

So the best option was the 7 Vegetable Stew and Couscous meal along with some very delicious side dishes. I did not exactly follow a recipe for the stew but I had a fairly good idea how to go about it thanks to the FoodNetwork website. You should just check it out - they have plenty of Moroccan vegetable (and non-vegetarian) meals.

Now, was the meal a success? Absolutely. I can assure you that meat lovers will not even miss their dose of meat in this meal. Three words to describe this meal: Contentment. Heartiness. Delicious. This meal is very easy to make because you cook everything in the same pot and assemble after.

The communal eating style that is common amongst the Moroccan culture is very sexy and romantic, in my opinion. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to share a different and exotic but special evening with one another :)

7 Vegetable Stew:
1 courgette, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 small sweet potatoes, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 medium potatoes, cut into 1 inch chunks
a handful of cauliflower
1/2 cup of green peas
2 tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons of black sultanas
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon of fennel seeds
1 teaspoon of anise powder
1 teaspoon of tumeric powder
2 tablespoons of oil
1.5 cup of vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon of Harissa (optional, that stuff is REALLY hot)

1.5 cups of Couscous (just follow the instructions on the packet)

Optional ingredients/side dishes: String beans, stuffed aubergines, stuffed grape leaves, green olives, black olives

Method:
1. Heat up a large pot under medium high heat with oil. Add onion and garlic, and saute until onion is translucent. Add all the dry spices and continue sauteing for another minute to roast the spices. Add vegetable broth and cover until it starts to simmer.
2. Add your sweet potatoes, potatoes and carrots in first to cook for 7 minutes before adding the other vegetables in.
3. Only at the very end, add your sultanas in. Simmer in low heat until ready to serve.

I wouldn't recommend simmering for too long since the vegetables would turned too soggy and I hate soggy vegetables. But if you don't mind soggy vegetables, then may the force be with you :)

Once your 7 Vegetable stew is done, it's time to serve. What I did was serve it on a large platter - couscous first, vegetable stew on top, string beans on the side, some stuffed aubergines on the corner with some fresh sliced cucumbers and pita bread.

What you have is a very Moroccan dinner for two. Enjoy!