- 1 onion
- 1 red pepper
- ½-1 tsp harissa paste
- 400g chopped tomatoes
- 100g baby leaf spinach
- 150g wholewheat couscous
- 2 cod fillets
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 450ml boiling water
- Deep frying pan with lid
- Baking tray (optional)
- 1.
Fill and boil your kettle. Peel and finely chop the onion. Halve the red pepper and scoop out the seeds and white pith. Roughly chop the pepper.
- 2.
Warm a deep frying pan that will fit the 2 cod fillets in snugly (don’t add them yet) on a medium heat, then pour in 1 tbsp olive oil. Add the chopped veg. Fry, stirring now and then for 5 mins till softened.
- 3.
When the veg has cooked for 5 mins, add ½-1 tsp harissa paste (it's very spicy, so use as much or as little as you prefer) with a pinch of salt and pepper, then stir. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and 150ml hot water from the kettle. Pop on a lid (or use a baking tray if you don't have a lid to fit) then bring up to a gentle bubble. Simmer for 5 mins.
- 4.
Roughly chop the baby spinach leaves and pop them into a large bowl. Tip in the couscous with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour over 300ml hot water from the kettle. Cover the bowl with a plate and leave to soak for 8-10 mins. The couscous will absorb the water and become tender.
- 5.
When the tomato sauce has cooked for 5 mins, lay the cod fillets into the sauce, spooning some over the top. Pop the lid or tray back on the pan and simmer for a further 5 mins. Insert a knife into the thickest part of a fillet. It should be translucent and flaky. If not, put the lid back on and cook for a further 1-2 mins till the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork when gently pressed.
- 6.
While the fish is poaching, finish the couscous. Fluff it with a fork, mixing the spinach through. Add some more salt or pepper if you think it needs it. Divide the couscous between a couple of plates, ready to serve.
- 7.
Carefully lift the cod out of the sauce and on to the plates of spinach couscous. Spoon over plenty of the spiced tomato and pepper sauce to serve.