Merguez with Couscous
Spicy lamb sausage with quick couscous and harissa.
Ingredients
- 400 g Merguez sausage
- 200 g Couscous
- 1 tbsp Harissa
- 1 Tomato
- 2 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Boil a kettle (or small pot) with about 240 ml of water for the couscous.
- Chop the tomato.
- Brown the merguez in a skillet over medium heat, turning, until crisp and cooked through, about 8 minutes.
- Put the couscous in a bowl, pour over the boiling water until just covered (about 240 ml), lid the bowl, and leave to steep 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped tomato to the merguez and warm through, about 1 minute.
- Fluff the steeped couscous with a fork, then stir through the olive oil and salt.
- Pile the couscous with the merguez, dot with harissa, and scatter the cilantro to serve.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Merguez with Couscous
Merguez with Couscous pairs North Africa's fiery lamb sausage with quick-steamed couscous for a fast, boldly flavored plate rooted in Maghrebi cooking. Merguez is a fresh sausage typically made from lamb (or beef) and heavily spiced with harissa, cumin, and chili, so it renders a deeply red, aromatic fat as it browns and crisps in the skillet. That fat, plus a spoonful of harissa dotted over the finished dish, is where most of the heat and character come from.
Because instant-style couscous only needs to steep in hot water and fluff, the whole meal is ready in about twenty minutes, making it a genuinely quick weeknight dinner with real depth. The couscous is dressed simply with olive oil and salt so it stays neutral and fluffy, a mild counterweight to the spicy, juicy sausage and the sweet-savory chopped tomato warmed in the pan. Fresh cilantro scattered on top adds brightness, and the harissa lets each person dial the heat up to taste, serving three.
Merguez with Couscous: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Merguez with Couscous?
A serving has about 726 calories — 31g protein, 53.9g carbs, 41.4g fat, 3.9g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 31g of protein, roughly 17% of its calories.
Is Merguez with Couscous gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Couscous. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Merguez with Couscous take to make?
About 22 minutes start to finish, but only around 14 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Merguez with Couscous?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cilantro — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Merguez with Couscous make?
This recipe makes 3 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.