North african pea soup with a couscous mev

4 Servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1¼ cup Dried yellow split peas
5 cups Low-sodium vegetable stock; (see recipe)
1 teaspoon Harissa (see recipe); divided
1 Peeled garlic clove; bashed and chopped
8 ounces Medium turnips; peeled and diced
16 Tiny onions; peeled
2 cups Mustard green; kale leaves,or turnip green, rolled, cut in thin strips
1 Sprig fresh rosemary
2 cups Couscous; cooked
⅛ teaspoon Salt
2 cups Water
¼ cup Shelled pistachio nuts; roughly chopped
½ cup Currants

Directions

MEV

FOR THE SOUP 1. Combine the split peas and vegetable stock in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn down heat, and simmer briskly for 15 minutes.

2. While the peas are cooking, combine ¾ of the powdered harissa spices with the garlic, mashing it thoroughly with a knife. Set aside in a small bowl.

3. Add the turnips and onions to the stock and cook 15 minutes more. Stir in the garlic and harissa mixture and the mustard greens. Lay the rosemary on the top and cover to keep warm.

FOR THE MEV: 1. Bring the water to a boil; stir in the remaining harissa, couscous, and salt. Remove from the heat and let it stand for 5 minutes.

2. Fluff the couscous with a fork and add the pistachios and currants. Fill MEV or other 1-cup molds with the couscous mixture and press down hard.

TO SERVE 4 PEOPLE: Remove the couscous from the molds and set in the middle of 4 hot soup bowls. Discard the rosemary sprig and ladle the soup around the couscous. Dust with just a little more harissa.

NOTES : Please look at the description of MEVs, an acronym for Molded Ethnic Vegetables, in the Every Modern Means book before you attempt this recipe.

Recipe by: Copyright c 1996 by Kerr Corporation Posted to recipelu-digest by "Valerie Whittle" <catspaw@...> on Feb 27, 1998

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