This Tunisian-inspired lamb kebabs with orange and watercress couscous recipe uses harissa spice paste, which goes into many North African dishes. It is a blend of red chillies, garlic, and spices such as caraway seeds and ground coriander. It’s available from most large supermarkets, where it’s sold with the dried spices. It tastes fantastic with these lamb kebabs, but if you prefer things a bit less spicy use a teaspoon each of ground cumin and coriander, a crushed clove of garlic and the zest and juice of 1 lemon.
Ingredients
(serves 4)
675g lamb neck fillet, trimmed
2tbsp harissa paste
1 each red, green and yellow pepper, cored and deseeded
1tbsp olive oil
225g couscous
Zest and juice 1 orange
1tbsp olive oil
85g bag watercress, roughly chopped
To serve: watercress and wedges of orange
Method
Thickly slice the lamb and place in a bowl with the harissa paste and 1tsp of the olive oil, toss well until the lamb is coated. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for 2-3 hours. Soak 6 bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
Place the couscous in a large bowl, add the orange zest and juice, oil and 450ml of boiling water from the kettle. Season, then stir in the watercress. Cover the bowl with a plate and leave to soak for 15 mins until the liquid has been absorbed. Fluff up the grains with a fork.
Cut the pepper into wedges and toss in the remaining oil. Thread the pepper and marinated lamb onto the soaked skewers. Cook the kebabs over hot barbecue coals or under a hot grill for 10-15mins, turning occasionally until chargrilled on the outside but still slightly pink on the inside. Serve the kebabs with the couscous and wedges of orange if you like.
Recipe courtesy of watercress.co.uk