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COUSCOUS SOUP - LA SOUPE DE COUSCOUS
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
 
ASTUCE: The best meat for couscous soup is lamb neck, which is wonderfully gelatinous, rather like oxtail or beef eye of round. You can use a mix of meats too, however, without adding any pork. Baking soda added to beans as they cook tenderizes them. Finally, you will notice that the carrots and the zucchini cook until they are soft, which is how they are meant to be. If you want your vegetables a bit more “al dente,” simply add them later on in the cooking time.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1-1/3 cups;250g dried chickpeas
  • teaspoon ½baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons;45m extra-virgin olive oil l
  • 2-1/2 kg;1250g pounds lean lamb or cow’s shoulder or neck
  • in; 2.25cm cutabout 3/4-inch pieces
  • 5 6 oz.;180g each medium onions, diced,
  • 2 generous pinches saffron
  • 1 tablespoons coarse sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons; 30g tomato paste
  • 2 -1/4 quarts (10 cups;2-1/4 liters) hot water
  • 2 pounds carrots cut in 1-inch (2.5cm) lengths, cut on a slight diagonal, 1 kg
  • 1-1/2 pounds; 750g turnips peeled, trimmed and cut in quarters or 1-inch (2.5cm) pieces
  • in if the turnips are large
  • 1-1/2 pounds 750g zucchini rinsed, trimmed, and cut in 1-1/2 inch (4cm) lengths,,
  • cut on a slight diagonal
  • 1-1/2 pounds; 750g potatoes peeled and cut in 1-1/2 inch (4cm) pieces,
Instructions
  1. Place the chickpeas in a pan and cover by 2 inches (5cm) with water. Add ½ teaspoon baking soda, stir, and bring the water to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour. Drain the chickpeas and cover them with fresh water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce the heat so the water is boiling gently and cook until the chickpeas are nearly tender through, about 1 hour.
  2. Heat the oil in a large, heavy kettle or saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the meat and brown it well on all sides, which will take about 9 minutes. Add the onions, stir so they are coated with oil, and cook until they are deep golden, about 10 minutes, then crumble the saffron over the mixture. Season it with the salt, stir, and 1 cup (250ml) of the hot water. Stir and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, to blend the ingredients and allow the saffron to soften. Add the tomato paste and the 2 quarts (2 liters) of hot water, bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat so the liquid is simmering merrily. Cook until the meat begins to turn tender, about 30 minutes.
  3. Add the carrots and the chickpeas, bring to a boil covered, reduce the heat so the liquid is boiling gently and cook until the carrots resist slightly when tested with a sharp knife, about 15 minutes. Add all the remaining vegetables and cook until they are tender, about 30 minutes. Check the seasoning and remove from the heat. The soup is ready to serve, but will benefit from sitting for an hour or two and being reheated.