Simple Venison Couscous

Warm and wonderful on a cold night. A one pot dish that takes very little prep and is packed with flavour. Best cooked in a Tagine, or failing that a wide risotto pan with a lid.

Prep: 5min Cook: 10min

Ingredients

200g couscous

200g venison rump cut as batons

1 pepper chopped as small slices

1/2 onion finely sliced

50g chopped dried fruit (apricots, dates, figs, sultanas – any or all)

1 dstspn cumin

1 dstspn rose petal paste

1 or 2 chillies finely chopped

500ml stock (ideally venison)

Salt and pepper

Method

  1. heat some olive oil in the pan, when it’s really hot sear the venison for 10-15 sec before turning – be brave. reserve the venison.
  2. Add the onion and pepper, cook in the olive oil until softening, then add the spices and fry for a further 30sec.
  3. Add the stock, fruit and couscous, turn the heat down and cook for 5-6 min until the couscous is cooked and the juices are all absorbed.
  4. test for salt, add the venison and some fresh black pepper and serve immediately.
Venison Couscous ready to eat

This is a basic and very tasty couscous. The rose adds a lovely flavour, you can use rose harissa instead of the rose and chillies – up to you. If you want more bulk you can add some small cubes of squash. For a bit of crunch you can mix a few pine nuts through hat the end, or for a richer nuttier flavour add a dstspn of ground almonds with the couscous.