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a classic that works

Couscous with beef meatballs and veggies

An everyday dish for 2, ready in 25 minutes, around $2.24 a serving. People actually plan it with Popotam, and it's in season in October.

25mintotal
≈ $2.24a serving
720kcalper serving
41gof protein
In season in OctoberFreezes well
Let's cook

Step-by-step recipe

check things off as you go

  1. Chop the onion and garlic

    Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Set them aside in the bowl.

  2. Cook the aromatics

    Heat the oil in the skillet and cook the onion and garlic for 2 min over medium heat without browning.

  3. Add the ground meat

    Add the ground meat to the skillet. Brown it for 5 min, breaking it up with the wooden spoon and stirring constantly.

    Tip · To keep the meat from drying out, don't cook it over heat that's too high.

  4. Stir in spices and tomatoes

    Add the cumin, paprika, crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper. Stir well and let it simmer over low heat for 3 min.

  5. Add the zucchini and carrots

    Wash the zucchini and carrots, peel them if needed and cut them into small cubes. Add them to the skillet with everything else. Stir.

  6. Cook the veggies covered

    Add 30 cl of water to the skillet, cover and cook for 10 min over medium heat to soften the vegetables.

    Tip · If the vegetables aren't tender enough after 10 min, cook them 2-3 min longer, covered.

  7. Make the couscous

    Meanwhile, bring 30 cl of water to a boil in the saucepan. Once it boils, take it off the heat, add the couscous, cover and let it swell for 5 min.

  8. Serve hot

    Divide the couscous among the plates and top it with the meat and saucy vegetables. Serve right away.

And there you go, it's readyCheck off every step to celebrate.

The questions you're asking

short answers, numbers you can check

How many calories in a serving?

One serving has about 720 kcal. 44% comes from carbs, 23% from protein and 30% from fat.

80 gCarbs
41 gProtein
24 gFat
Per serving (the dish for 2, divided by 2)
Energy720 kcal
Protein40.5 g
Carbs79.6 g
of which sugars14.7 g
Fat24.3 g
of which saturated fat9.5 g
Fiber10.5 g
Salt0.6 g

Worked out ingredient by ingredient with the ANSES Ciqual 2025 table, never written by an AI. It's an estimate: veggie sizes and brands make the numbers vary.

How much does it cost?

About $2.24 a serving, adding up the average prices of the ingredients you need to buy.

≈ $4.48for 2 people
≈ $2.24a serving

Pantry salt, oil and spices aren't counted. Your store and your brands will move the total, but the ballpark is right.

How long does it keep?

2 days in the fridge, in a closed container, once cooled within two hours. And it freezes really well.

2 daysin the fridge
Very wellin the freezer, thaw it in the fridge the day before

Times Popotam uses for meal prep, based on ANSES guidance, rounded down. The details: how long cooked dishes keep.

and the rest of the week?

Popotam plans your whole week

Lunch and dinner, with dishes like this one, based on your tastes, your time and your budget. The grocery list is sorted by aisle. Free, no account.

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