Couscous with poached figs

Bring to a boil water, cinnamon sticks, star anise, a few crushed cardamom pods and cloves. Turn off the heat and soak dried figs in the liquid for a few hours. Drain and keep the liquid. Cut the figs into small pieces and cook the couscous using the liquid (add as much additional water as is needed for your volume of couscous). Mix in the fig pieces and parsley. Served here with a veal roast stuffed with figs (I cheated and got that one already made from the butcher's).