Palestinian-Style Lamb and Couscous One-Pot Stew

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-27 · Updated 2026-03-27

A rich and aromatic lamb stew with aromatic spices, served over fluffy couscous in a single pot for an easy, comforting meal. This middle eastern-inspired one pot ready in about 120 minutes pairs cubed lamb shoulder, large, diced onion, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb, cubed lamb shoulder
• 1 large, diced onion
• 4 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups couscous
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1.5 lb cubed lamb shoulder and cook for 5 minutes until browned on all sides.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 3 minutes until onion is translucent and garlic is fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander, and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 2 minutes until spices are aromatic.
4. Step 4: Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 hours until lamb is tender and falling apart.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 1/2 cups couscous and 2 tbsp lemon juice. Cook for 10-12 minutes until couscous is absorbed and the stew thickens. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.