Spinach & chickpea couscous

Look, I know I just did a couscous recipe but like I said in my previous post, I’m poor and a bit fat so give me an effing break… Also, I appear to only have a giant bag of couscous in my cupboard so I should probably try and make some sort of dent in it. Anyway, if I find myself becoming bored of couscous, I can always try and feed some to my new housemate, a small disgusting mouse I’ve decided to call, Vince. He moved in last week while Max the dog was on holiday, not cool. So not only do I have my poverty and fatness to contend with, but now I have to try and evict Vince if I’m ever to coax my terrified boyfriend out of the bedroom.

Anyway enough about Vince, lets talk couscous. I went to Barcelona on my 20th birthday with my first boyfriend who ended up stealing all my stuff – but that’s another story. Anyhoo, there wasn’t much I could eat out there but one restaurant made me a sautéed chickpea and spinach dish which I remember thinking looked rubbish but was actually really delicious. It’s a little weedy by itself though so I’ve put it with some couscous and feta. If you’re feeling frisky you can try topping it with a poached egg… I hope you don’t mind if I don’t though, the realisation that I went to Barcelona over 10 years ago just made me feel sick… Vom.

Spinach & chickpea couscous
Serves 2 / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 20 mins / V 
1 tsp rapeseed
80g couscous
150ml vegetable stock, I use ½ Knorr stock pot
½ onion, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
¼ tsp chilli flakes
½ tsp turmeric
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
200g fresh spinach
2 spring onions, chopped
100g feta, crumbled
Extra virgin olive oil to (to serve)

Method
1. Pour the couscous into a big bowl and cover with stock. Give it a brief stir with a fork before covering with cling film. Put to one side.
2. Add a tsp of oil and to a large frying pan or heavy bottomed pot over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and chilli and soften for 5-10 mins, adding a dash of water to help them steam. Once softened, add the turmeric and  cook for 2 mins before stirring in the chickpeas. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Start adding the spinach a handful at a time, allowing it to wilt before adding another, adding a dash of water to aid steaming if necessary.
4. Once the spinach has wilted season well with salt and pepper and put to one side to cool slightly.
5. Remove the cling film from the couscous and rake with a fork until the nice and loose. Add the warm chickpea mixture to the couscous and give it a good stir. Finely chop the spring onions and incorporate them into the couscous. Stir through the feta and serve with a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V– Vegetarian