Sometimes you want dinner to feel like it came from a Middle Eastern café… but your fridge and energy levels say “good luck with that.”
Enter: the solo Lamb & Couscous Bowl. It’s bold, savoury, subtly spiced, and comes together in under 25 minutes — without fancy ingredients or washing up every dish you own.
Whether you’re cooking for yourself after a long day or just want something different to your usual dinner-for-one rotation, this one’s a total winner.
🧆 Why You’ll Love This Dish
At Plan4One.com, we’re all about big flavour with small effort — and this recipe absolutely delivers. Here’s why it’s a keeper:
- ✅ Uses lamb mince (budget-friendly & quick to cook)
- ✅ Only four ingredients (plus boiling water — not cheating!)
- ✅ Packs protein, whole grains, and fresh veggies in one bowl
- ✅ No oven, blender, or food processor needed
- ✅ Perfect for solo cooks who don’t want leftovers hanging around
🍽️ Lamb & Couscous Bowl (Single Serve Recipe)
Prep + Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 1
Equipment Needed: Frying pan, kettle or saucepan
🛒 Ingredients
- 100g lamb mince
- ¼ cup couscous
- ½ fresh tomato, diced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Salt & pepper (optional, but recommended)
- Boiling water (approx. ⅓ cup)
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Cook the Lamb
- Heat a small frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the lamb mince and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula until browned and cooked through.
- Sprinkle over the cumin, and season with a little salt and pepper if you like.
- Cook for another minute until fragrant and toasty-smelling.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
💡 Plan4One Tip: Add a pinch of smoked paprika or chilli flakes if you want a bit of a kick.
2. Prepare the Couscous
- Place the ¼ cup couscous in a heatproof bowl or container.
- Pour over about ⅓ cup of boiling water, just enough to cover.
- Cover the bowl with a plate or lid and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork.
🧂 Optional: Stir in a drizzle of olive oil, squeeze of lemon juice, or a pinch of salt to level up the flavour.
3. Bring It All Together
- Dice your ½ tomato and stir it through the fluffed couscous.
- Top with the cooked cumin-spiced lamb.
- Give it a little mix or leave it layered — whatever makes you feel most put together tonight.
🥗 Optional Add-Ons (If You’re Feeling Fancy)
Want to bulk it up or mix up the flavour? Try:
- 🧅 Diced red onion or spring onion
- 🥒 Chopped cucumber or grated carrot
- 🧄 A dollop of Greek yogurt or hummus
- 🌿 A sprinkle of chopped parsley or mint
- 🍋 Lemon zest or a quick squeeze of lemon juice
🥄 Nutrition Notes
This little bowl packs a nice nutritional punch for such a humble line-up:
- Protein from the lamb to keep you full
- Whole grains from couscous (choose wholemeal if available)
- Vitamin C & hydration from the fresh tomato
- Anti-inflammatory cumin for bonus spice benefits
It’s the perfect mix of comfort food and weeknight wellness.
🧊 Leftovers? Not This Time
This recipe is made just for you, in a neat, single-serve format. If you’re cooking for two (or just want lunch tomorrow), double everything — easy. Otherwise, no soggy reheats or forgotten Tupperware in the back of the fridge.
🧽 Minimal Cleanup Vibes
No blender, no baking tray, no food processor. One pan, one bowl, one fork — Plan4One-approved washing up levels.
✨ Final Thoughts
This Lamb & Couscous Bowl is one of those secret weapon meals you’ll come back to again and again. It’s got that perfect balance of quick-cook satisfaction and home-cooked flavour — without making a mess or taking up your entire evening.
💌 Get More Like This
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Or share this recipe with a mate who thinks couscous is too hard. You’ll look like a genius.








