Moroccan Spiced Mince with Couscous Recipe
A delicious and aromatic Moroccan spiced mince made with Quorn mince, infused with warming spices and sweet dried apricots, perfectly served over fluffy lemon and mint couscous and topped with toasted cashews for a delightful crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Moroccan
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Spiced Mince
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 2 medium onions, roughly chopped
- 350g pack Quorn mince
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground turmeric
- 100g ready-to-eat dried apricots, quartered
- 600ml vegetable stock
Couscous
- 280g couscous
- grated zest of 2 lemons
- 4 tbsp chopped fresh mint
Toppings
- 50g unsalted cashews, toasted under the grill
Instructions
- Cook the onions: Heat the sunflower oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the roughly chopped onions and cook gently for about 5 minutes until they soften and become translucent.
- Add Quorn and spices: Stir in the Quorn mince along with ground cumin, ground cinnamon, and ground turmeric. Since Quorn doesn’t require browning, simply mix everything together thoroughly.
- Incorporate apricots and stock: Add the quartered dried apricots and pour in the vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until the flavors blend and the mixture thickens slightly.
- Prepare the couscous: While the spiced mince is cooking, prepare the couscous according to the packet instructions, using approximately 450ml boiling water to achieve a fluffy texture.
- Flavor the couscous: Once the couscous is cooked, fluff it with a fork and gently stir in the grated zest of 2 lemons and the chopped fresh mint. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toast the cashews: Toast the unsalted cashews under the grill until they turn golden and fragrant, being careful not to burn them.
- Serve: Spoon the flavored couscous onto serving plates. Pile the Moroccan spiced Quorn mince on top, then scatter the toasted cashews over the dish just before serving for an added crunch.
Notes
- Quorn mince is used here as a meat substitute and does not require browning like traditional meat.
- Adjust the amount of vegetable stock to your desired consistency for the spiced mince.
- You can substitute dried apricots with other dried fruits such as raisins or chopped dates if preferred.
- For a nuttier flavor, you can replace cashews with toasted almonds or pistachios.
- This dish pairs well with a simple side salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Keywords: Moroccan spiced mince, Quorn mince, couscous, dried apricots, cashews, lemon zest, fresh mint, vegetarian main, North African cuisine
