One-Pan Shrimp and Pearl Couscous With Harissa

Published May 15, 2020

One-Pan Shrimp and Pearl Couscous With Harissa
Yossy Arefi for The New York Times (Photography and Styling)
Total Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(1,518)
Comments
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This easy dish relies on harissa for its flavorful broth. Different brands can vary wildly in flavor and heat, so incorporate the harissa slowly, especially if yours is very spicy, and add more at the end to taste. The final dish does have some sauciness to it: The starch from the couscous will thicken the sauce in the few minutes it takes to go from stovetop to table, but you may want to provide a spoon along with a fork. If you prefer a drier dish, you can reduce the amount of water by ¼ cup.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 to 4tablespoons harissa paste, plus more to taste
  • 1tablespoon olive oil
  • 1tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1cup pearl couscous or orzo
  • 3 to 4garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½cup dry white wine
  • 1pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved crosswise
  • ½cup fresh Italian parsley leaves, packed, coarsely chopped or left whole
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

380 calories; 8 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 43 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 30 grams protein; 775 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a medium bowl, toss shrimp with ¼ teaspoon salt, a few grinds of black pepper and 1 tablespoon harissa. Set aside.

  2. Step 2

    In a large, lidded skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium. Add onion and ½ teaspoon salt, and cook, stirring, until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Add couscous, garlic, coriander and cumin. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until couscous is toasted.

  4. Step 4

    Add wine and cook until evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of harissa and 2½ cups water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes, until couscous is al dente. (There will still be plenty of liquid.)

  5. Step 5

    Nestle the shrimp into the couscous, pushing them under the surface a bit. Add the tomatoes and increase the heat until simmering again. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, rearranging shrimp using tongs once, until they are pink and cooked through. Adjust seasoning, if needed, adding more harissa, salt and pepper if desired. Garnish with parsley and serve in shallow bowls.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
1,518 user ratings
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Comments

gorgeous! I made this the night my wife and I got divorced

This was incredibly delicious, with a few changes based on other comments. We used TJ's harissa paste, which is pretty dang spicy. 2 Tbsp was PLENTY. Used stock instead of water and also added in 1 bunch of chopped kale for some extra green, once the stock came to a boil and before simmering. Threw in 1/4 cup of capers at the end along with fresh parsley and cilantro. Two bites in, my boyfriend declared that this absolutely needed to be added to our regular rotation.

It's not listed in the ingredients, but is mentioned in step 4.

Don’t understand the great reviews. There was too much liquid - to compensate, I ended up cooking the dish longer than was good for the shrimp. Even then this was bland. Adding some preserved lemon, mint, and feta made a difference.

Very good and very easy! Made exactly as described but added frozen peas right before adding the shrimp. I always love adding peas to these one dish meals

Rly yummy and a nice template to play around with. Pretty soupy as written. To eat cheap I’ve used tofu/chili garlic sauce/cauliflower instead of shrimp/harissa/tomato. Not strictly an upgrade, but still tasty.

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