Long time ago.. but always a nice memory. When I was a young girl my mother used to travel a lot around with me in her baggage. That’s why I am maybe that restless and want to visit all countries, see everything, know people. And that’s maybe why I became a tourist guide.
But let me remember Tunisia and Morocco. Both countries where lovely. And me as a young girl with brown skin and eyes but blond long hair had a great time. My mother got a lot of proposals for me, the biggest one was 43 camels. But my mother didn’t want camels… lucky me! I learned how to do the knots of the famous carpets (somewhere in the world there must be a carpet with my knots in!). I sat with the Berber women and tried out the moving stones to grind up the grain in Matmata. I was in the desert riding on an Arabian camel and in the evening I danced with a beautiful Tuareg. I always loved the food. For my mother it was often too oily… I liked it. And I liked also the desserts. Often with honey and pistachios in Phyllo pastry. Very yummy. I found those desserts later in Greece and Turkey again. I will never forget the couscous dishes with vegetables and lamb – I was still eating meat. And I still go crazy for Brik… a Yufka sandwich filled with vegetables and tuna fish. I have a friend in Germany she made it a few times for me, it is so scrumptious!
Sightseeing? I loved the Roman ruins. I saw them all I think. I heard the stories of the people living there two thousand years ago. And to me there was a very strange happening in Cartage: we were there in a rug shop. My mother wanted to buy the 105th carpet and while waiting for the papers done we had a walk around. And I knew all the ancient streets. I knew exactly how to arrive at a mosque and I new some homes. But could of course not connect with anything in this life. It was very interesting. And I never forgot that. Maybe a Dejà-vu of an ancient life?
I still remember well the loooooooong beaches, the white sands and the always blowing wind that makes moving the ocean and therefore perfect for fun bathing. Oh yes, one day I will go there again for a few days. Wonderful people, very open and kind, and very interesting culture. Unfortunately I don’t have anymore that long black, woolen cape. It was handmade and I wore it with 40°C in the shadow. Without having warm. While my mother didn’t know which clothes still to get rid off.
Well, all these memories a coming just now, when a friend invited me to lunch. She prepared a couscous with vegetables. I loved it. We had also a little bit of yogurt on it, I love that sour taste.
- 100 g couscous
- 500 ml vegetable stock
- 100 ml white wine
- 1 onion
- 1 glove garlic
- 1 Hokkaido pumpkin
- 2 tsp sesame seed oil
- 1 tsp ras el hanout
- pinch salt
- Clean and chop onion, garlic and Hokkaido.
- Heat sesame seed oil in a pot and sauté lightly onion and garlic.
- Now boost the heat and add first the Couscous and then the Hokkaido. Sprinkle the Ras el Hanout over it and stir-fry.
- Add half of the vegetable stock and let boil all for a minute. Now let all simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Because the couscous will take all the stock add gradually the rest of the vegetable stock.
- Only in the last few minutes add salt.
- For serving arrange the stew on two dishes or in two bowls, spread some chopped baby leek and some yogurt on the top.
It's possible also with lamb. Who doesn't find the Ras el Hanout – a Tunisian chilly spice mix – can try with simple curry or also the Moroccan Harissa.
Nice variation: add two apples. Very fruity!
Instead of the yogurt try some self made nut yogurt.
For the paleo version use shredded cauliflower instead of the Couscous.
I love Roman ruins. Did you also visit Volubilis in Morocco?
I didn’t unfortunately. It is in the North, I was in the South. But I would like to see that place.