Fragrant couscous

Recipes

Fragrant couscous

By Michael Meredith

40 minutes

Preparation time

50 minutes

Cooking time

4

Serves

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Ingredients

1 large red kumara

2 tablespoons olive oil

300g Israeli couscous

2 tablespoons za’atar

130g toasted almond pieces

400ml chicken stock

100g dried cherries, chopped

1 teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest

50g parsley and chives, chopped

200g kale, roughly torn

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Method

Kumara

1.
Pre-heat oven on Fan Plus at 200°C and select Crisp function.

2.
Peel and dice kumara into 2cm cubes. Place in bowl and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper

3.
Transfer onto a multi-purpose tray and place in the oven on shelf position 2. Cook for 30 minutes and set aside.

Couscous

1.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, Induction setting 7, add couscous and stir to toast (1-2 minutes).

2.
Add stock and bring to the boil.  Transfer into a solid steam tray.  Place in the Steam Oven and Steam at 100°C for 19 minutes.  Add kale and cook for a further 1 minute.

3.
Remove couscous from the Steam Oven and mix through almonds, cherries, za’atar, roasted kumara, lemon, herbs and season to taste.

To Serve

1.
Serve on a platter alongside the quail.

Hints and tips

  • Chicken stock can be substituted for vegetable stock for a vegetarian alternative.

Applicance Functions

  • Fan Plus
  • Induction Cooktop
  • Steam
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Michael Meredith

Michael Meredith is an acclaimed chef and restaurateur based in New Zealand. Born in Samoa, his earliest food memories are of his mother's pancake stall at a local market in Apia. His latest restaurant, Metita, which opened in late 2023, is a tribute to his late mother and is located in Auckland's SkyCity precinct. The menu at Metita offers a contemporary take on Polynesian and Pacific cuisine, inspired by his childhood. Throughout his career, Michael has been recognized for his inventive use of local and seasonal ingredients. He was the founding chef of The Grove in 2004, and later opened his own multi-award-winning restaurant, Merediths, which operated for a decade. He is also the owner of the Auckland eatery Mr Morris. Beyond his restaurants, Meredith has been involved in charitable projects. He was a co-founder of Eat My Lunch, a social enterprise that helps provide lunches to underprivileged children in New Zealand. He also lends his culinary skills to other causes, such as raising money for the Starship Children's Hospital.