Kusksu (Libyan Couscous with Spicy Beef and Vegetables)
Ingredients
- 1 pound stewing beef cut into four pieces
- 1 1/2 tablespoons oil for frying
- 1 large onion , halved and cut in half rings
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves , finely chopped
- 2 medium potatoes , peeled and halved
- 2 carrots , halved
- 8 ounces pumpkin or yam , cut into four chunks
- 1 cup cooked garbanzo beans
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon hot chili powder
- 2 tablespoons hararat , see recipe below
- 1/3 cup tomato purée
- 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups beef broth
- oil for frying
- Couscous
- Hararat Recipe:
- 2 cinnamon stick broken into 4 pieces each
- 4 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 4 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 2 red chilies
- 1 teaspoon allspice berries
Instructions
- To make the hararat: Heat a large non-stick frying pan then add the spices. Toast for about 4 minutes stirring frequently, until the spices become very fragrant. Transfer to a bowl to let cool. Grind in a spice or coffee grinder. Store in an air-tight jar until ready to use.
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and fry the beef until nicely browned on all sides. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute.Add the chili powder, hararat, tomatoes, tomato puree, beef stock, salt, and brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes.Add the vegetables and garbanzo beans, return to a boil, reduce, cover and simmer for another 40 minutes until until the vegetables and beef are tender and the sauce has thickened.
- To serve, add the couscous to a serving platter, arrange the meat and vegetables on top then ladle the tomato-based sauce over everything.
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