Another recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi‘s column The new vegetarian on the Guardian. It took me a while to realize that it was worthwhile to face an inordinate amount of ingredients: his recipes are absolutely delicious and full of flavors. This one has over 20 ingredients, but it is very straight forward. Plus, the veggies can be done in bulk to eat latter (reheating won’t change its organoleptic properties). Seriously, how hard can it be to roast some vegetables and put them on top of couscous?

The ultimate Winter couscous

• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 2cm chunks
• 2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 2cm chunks (it is easier to be blessed with a sunny day in November than finding parsnips in Switzerland. I replaced it with a different type of pumpkin).
• 8 shallots, peeled
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 star anise
• 3 bay leaves
• 5 tbsp olive oil
• half teaspoon of  salt
• half teaspoon ground ginger
• half teaspoon ground turmeric
• half teaspoon paprika
• half teaspoon chilli flakes
• 300g squash, peeled and cut into 2cm chunks (weight after cleanning)
• 100g  dried apricots, roughly chopped
• 200g chickpeas (cooked or tinned)
• 350ml water (or chickpea liquor)
• 170g couscous
• 1 big pinch saffron fronds
• 260ml vegetable stock
• 20g butter, cut into small pieces
• 25g harissa (I ignored it)
• 25g preserved lemon, finely chopped (I ignored it)
• 1 handful picked coriander leaves (I forgot to add, but at the speed this was eaten it didn’t seem to be instrumental for the recipe)

Methods

Around 15 minutes before the vegetables will be ready, put the couscous in a heatproof bowl with a tablespoon of olive oil, the saffron and half a teaspoon of salt. Boil the stock, pour over the couscous and cover with clingfilm. Leave for 10 minutes, then add the butter and fluff up with a fork until it melts in. Cover again and leave somewhere warm (I followed the couscous instructions for time and volume).

To serve, fill the base of a deep plate with couscous. Stir the harissa and lemon into the vegetables, taste, adjust the seasoning and spoon on to the centre of the couscous. Garnish with lots of coriander.