MAKE YOUR OWN RAS EL HANOUT
The couscous can be simplified – you could leave out the chickpeas, raisins and preserved lemon and just add chopped herbs. Or add texture with extra bits like chopped dried apricots, flaked toasted almonds and chopped roasted red peppers.
Ras el hanout means ‘head of the shop’ in Arabic as a reference to the freshest spices in the shop the owner would mix up specially. Find it ready-mixed in larger supermarkets or online, or you can make your own by toasting and grinding together 2 tbsp each cumin seeds and coriander seeds, 1 tbsp ground cinnamon, 2 tsp each ground ginger and black peppercorns,1 tsp ground turmeric and 1/2 tsp cardamom seeds. Will keep in a jar or airtight container for two weeks.
SERVES 6-8 PREP 40 mins plus at least 1 hr marinating COOK 4 hrs EASY