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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Harissa-Garlic Pearl Couscous and Shrimp

4 Servings

35 minutes

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This recipe was inspired by Moroccan crevettes pil pil, a stewy, fragrant shrimp dish that is rich in fruity olive oil. The warm spices, smoky harissa, sweet-tart tomatoes and lots of garlic are a wonderful complement to plump, briny shrimp. Here, to round out the meal, we add pearl couscous. First, we toast the couscous in olive oil to enhance its nutty taste, then simmer it in the fragrant sauce. Be sure to use pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous or ptitim. A type of semolina pasta prized for its tender-chewy texture, it is more substantial than regular couscous. Before adding the caraway seeds to the pan, lightly crush them with a mortar and pestle or a heavy skillet.

4

Servings

Tip

Don’t skip the step of toasting the caraway seeds, harissa and paprika. This brings out their flavors and lends complexity to the finished dish.

35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1½

    pounds extra-large (21/25 per pound) shrimp, peeled (tails removed), deveined and patted dry

  • 1

    teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon sweet paprika, divided

Directions

Reviews
Jennifer J.
January 20, 2024
Quick and tasty dinner
I halved the recipe tonight for 2 for dinner. I was pleased to see that the ratio of water to couscous still worked well. This was quick and quite tasty. My husband added extra harissa, but I thought the spice level was perfect as written.

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