Easy Spicy Moroccan Crispy Chickpea Couscous
This spicy Moroccan crispy chickpea, roasted carrots, and juicy tomatoes couscous are all cozy comfort and warming spices. It’s a healthy nutritional powerhouse of immune system-boosting ingredients…and it’s so tasty I would happily eat it every day.
Jump to RecipeSpicy Moroccan Crispy Chickpea couscous with carrots and tomatoes – spiced roasted carrots that are just golden and browned on the outside and deliciously tender, roasted chickpeas, garlicky flavors, and fluffy steaming couscous…that could be swapped out for quinoa if you need a gluten-free version. And all this deliciousness comes in a budget-friendly, simple-to-make, quick and healthy flavor-loaded bowl. It doesn’t get much easier than this.
We are working with flavor-packed Mediterranean spices, juicy tomatoes, garlic, chickpeas, and smoky fried carrots.
Why you need to make this Mediterranean roasted carrots and chickpeas salad
- It’s easy to make and packed with flavors
- Healthy and loaded with nutrients and immune system-boosting ingredients
- Goes well with everything – from vegan nuggets to juicy grilled portobello steaks this couscous makes everything better
- Coziness in a bowl – made for a night on the sofa with a blanket wrapped around you and a good movie playing
- Great meal prep-friendly salad – you can easily make it 1-2 days in advance
Gluten-free couscous alternative
If you need gluten-free couscous there are several great options. One of the easiest options is to simply use gluten-free couscous from the grocery store. It’s typically made using cornmeal and has much of the same fluffy texture.
For a very healthy nutrient-rich alternative to couscous, you can substitute it with quinoa. Quinoa has a more nutty flavor that compliments this salad and all the spices really well.
For a full guide on how to make all the different types of couscous check out my helpful guide here
How to make couscous in a microwave
Making Moroccan couscous in a microwave is a quick and easy process.
You need:
- 1 cup dry couscous, instant
- 1 cup water
- Seasoning
- Pour the water into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until the water is very hot or boiling.
- Carefully, remove the bowl from the microwave. Pour the couscous into the bowl with water along with all the seasoning. Quickly stir once and cover with a lid. Leave the couscous to rest in the bowl for 5-10 minutes.
- When the couscous is done resting, fluff it with a fork before adding the roasted vegetables and combine everything.
- Serve and enjoy.
How to make perfect couscous in a saucepan
Bring water or vegetable broth to a boil and stir in Moroccan instant couscous. Add the seasoning and turn off the heat and leave the couscous to rest for 3-5 minutes.
Once the couscous has absorbed all the liquid, fluff it with a fork before adding the roasted vegetables and combining everything.
Serve and enjoy.
How to make the best easy 10-minute fluffy couscous
Bring water to a boil in a kettle. Place the couscous in a heat-safe bowl and add the seasoning. Pour the boiling water over the couscous and quickly stir to combine. Cover the bowl with a lid and leave the couscous to rest for 5 minutes.
Fluff the couscous with a fork before adding the roasted vegetables. Mix everything and top with a garnish of fresh basil.
Serve and enjoy.
How to cook couscous in a microwave
Heat the water or vegetable broth in a microwave for 2 minutes until it’s boiling. Place the couscous in a heat-safe bowl and add the seasoning. Pour the boiling water over the couscous and quickly stir to combine. Cover the bowl with a lid and leave the couscous to rest for 5 minutes.
Fluff the couscous with a fork before adding the roasted vegetables. Mix everything and top with a garnish of fresh basil.
Serve and enjoy.
For a full guide on how to make all the different types of couscous check out my helpful guide here
What to serve with couscous
There are so many tasty options. Couscous compliments almost everything.
- vegan meatless meatballs
- Black bean burgers
- Celeriac steak
- Vegan chicken-less nuggets
- Sweet potato meatballs
- Portobello mushrooms
Frequently asked questions
No. Couscous is made using semolina flour which contains gluten. A good gluten-free alternative to couscous is quinoa.
You can substitute the regular couscous with gluten-free couscous that you can typically find at the gluten-free section of the grocery store. Another option is to use quinoa instead of couscous or even basmati rice or wild rice.
es. Couscous salad is great to make in advance. You can easily make this couscous salad 1-2 days ahead of time
Absolutely. Beans will work great as a healthy and delicious protein source in this recipe.
Easy Spicy Moroccan Crispy Chickpea, carrot, and tomato couscous
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil or other vegetable oil
- 2-3 Carrots sliced
- 1 15oz can Chickpeas rinsed and drained
- 3 large Tomatoes cut into wedges
- 3 cloves Garlic finely chopped or minced
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 handful Fresh Basil Chopped (optional garnish)
Couscous
- 1 cup Dry Couscous instant
- 1 cup Water or vegetable broth
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
Instructions
Vegetables
- Heat olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the sliced carrots and chickpeas. Season with salt, smoked paprika, and Italian spice mix and allow to cook at medium-high heat for a 5 minutes or until the chickpeas just begin to get golden and crispy. Add the tomatoes and garlic and let everything cook for 3-4 more minutes.
How to make the best easy 10-minute fluffy couscous
- Bring water to a boil in a kettle. Place the couscous in a heat-safe bowl and add the seasoning. Pour the boiling water over the couscous and quickly stir to combine. Cover the bowl with a lid and leave the couscous to rest for 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork before adding the roasted vegetables. Mix everything and top with a garnish of fresh basil.Serve and enjoy.
How to cook couscous in a microwave
- Heat the water or vegetable broth in a microwave for 2 minutes until it’s boiling. Place the couscous in a heat-safe bowl and add the seasoning. Pour the boiling water over the couscous and quickly stir to combine. Cover the bowl with a lid and leave the couscous to rest for 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork before adding the roasted vegetables. Mix everything and top with a garnish of fresh basil.Serve and enjoy.
