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Berkoukes
Large couscous pearls in vegetable broth
Berkoukes: Tlemcen's large hand-rolled couscous pearls in a tomato and vegetable broth
Berkoukes, the big chewy couscous pearls rolled by hand in Tlemcen and the west of Algeria, is cold-weather food and a classic dish for the end of winter or a family supper. Cooked directly in a thick, tomato-red broth with courgette, carrot, potato, turnip, peas and chickpeas, it becomes a spoonable, comforting stew, fragrant with garlic, paprika, dried mint and fresh coriander. Many families make it with meat or khlii; this is the vegetable version cooked at home on ordinary days. Bought berkoukes, maftoul or giant couscous are fine. Chef's tip: steam or toast the berkoukes before simmering it; the pearls hold their shape and don't turn to porridge.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 oniongrated
- 3 garlic clovescrushed
- 3 tomatoesgrated, skins discarded
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 carrotsdiced
- 1 turnipdiced
- 1 potatodiced
- 7 oz cooked chickpeasdrained
- 5 ½ cups hot water
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 10 ½ oz berkoukes or giant couscous
- 1 courgettediced
- 3 ½ oz peasfresh or frozen
- 1 tsp dried mint
- 3 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 4 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over a medium heat and cook 1 onion for 5 minutes until soft. Add 3 garlic cloves, 3 tomatoes, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp sweet paprika, ½ tsp ground black pepper and ¼ tsp ground cinnamon and cook for 8 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the oil separates.
13 minStep 2: Add 2 carrots, 1 turnip, 1 potato, 7 oz cooked chickpeas, 5 ½ cups hot water and 1 ½ tsp salt. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 3: Meanwhile toast 10 ½ oz berkoukes or giant couscous in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 4–5 minutes, stirring, until it smells nutty and a few pearls turn golden.
5 minStep 4: Stir the berkoukes and 1 courgette into the pot and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often, until the pearls are tender but still chewy. A common mistake is letting it sit without stirring; the pearls glue to the base, so stir and add hot water if it thickens too much.
15 minStep 5: Add 3 ½ oz peas and cook for 3 minutes more. Rub in 1 tsp dried mint, stir in 3 tbsp fresh coriander and rest for 5 minutes before serving in deep bowls.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 80 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 11 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does berkoukes take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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