A U-shaped peeler with a horizontal blade (available at most supermarkets) makes peeling the squash easier.
Here it’s okay to pulse the parsley in a food processor rather than chop it by hand, but pat it dry with paper towels first.
Preserved lemons may be prepared and squash, onion, and couscous cooked (toss couscous with a little oil) 1 day ahead and chilled separately in sealable plastic bags. Bring to room temperature before combining.
Recipe information
Total Time
3 hr
Yield
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 475°F.
Step 2
Halve lemons and scoop out flesh, keeping both flesh and peel. Cut enough peel into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1/4 cup. Put lemon flesh in a sieve set over a bowl and press with back of a spoon to extract juice.
Step 3
Toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil and salt to taste in a large shallow baking pan and spread in 1 layer. Roast in upper third of oven 15 minutes, or until squash is just tender, and transfer to a large bowl.
Step 4
Cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to turn golden. Add to squash.
Step 5
Cook couscous with cinnamon stick in a large pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain in a colander (do not rinse). Add couscous to vegetables and toss with 2 tablespoon oil to coat.
Step 6
Add lemon peel and juice, parsley, nuts, raisins, ground cinnamon, and salt to taste. Toss to mix well.
To adapt this recipe to serve 50:
Step 7
4 to 5 preserved lemons
Step 8
5 lb. butternut squash, peeled and seeded
Step 9
3/4 to 1 cup olive oil
Step 10
3 cups chopped onion
Step 11
7 cups Israeli couscous or acini di pepe (tiny peppercorn-shaped pasta), about 3 lb.
Step 12
4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
Step 13
3 cups chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Step 14
2 cups pine nuts, toasted
Step 15
2 cups golden raisins
Step 16
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Step 17
Preheat oven to 475°F.
Step 18
Halve lemons and scoop out flesh, keeping both flesh and peel. Cut enough peel into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 cup. Put lemon flesh in a sieve set over a bowl and press with back of a spoon to extract juice.
Step 19
Cut enough squash into 1/4-inch dice to measure about 12 cups and toss with 1/3 cup oil and salt to taste. Roast in single layers in batches in your largest shallow baking pan in upper third of oven 15 minutes, or until just tender.
Step 20
Cook 1/2 of onion in 3 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to turn golden. Add to squash. Repeat with remaining onion and more oil.
Step 21
Cook couscous with cinnamon sticks in an 8-qt. pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain in a colander (do not rinse). Toss couscous with 3 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add squash, onion, lemon peel and juice, and remaining ingredients. Season with salt (you'll need a lot) and toss to mix well.
