You can use couscous the identical method you’d use rice or pasta, as a starch over which to serve one other dish, particularly one thing saucy. It additionally makes an awesome sizzling or chilly aspect or salad, dressed up with any variety of greens, herbs and spices. You may even use it for dessert.
Another choice is Israeli couscous, which shares some traits however is a fairly completely different product. Sometimes known as pearl couscous, Israeli couscous is an extruded pasta, much like most of the acquainted Italian shapes. It consists of small spheres of toasted semolina that take somewhat longer to cook dinner, extra like 8 to 10 minutes. The texture is bouncier and much less grainlike. It, too, is sort of versatile.
To present you the vary of each sorts, right here’s a roundup of recipes from our archives.
Couscous Primavera, at prime. This contemporary and brilliant dish with asparagus, peas, scallions, carrots and herbs suggestions the stability in favor of extra greens than couscous.
Sheet Pan Caponata and Couscous With Goat Cheese. Here’s an awesome instance of what my colleague Daniela Galarza calls “couscous with stuff on top.” In this case, it’s a candy and tart model of Sicilian eggplant caponata made on a sheet pan. A dollop of goat cheese melts enticingly into the nice and cozy dish for creamy luxurious.
Couscous Salad With Smoked Trout and Pepperoncini. As my colleague Ann Maloney says of this foremost course, “toasted couscous gets tossed in a wonderfully tart and just a tiny bit spicy mixture of extra-virgin olive oil, pepperoncini brine and minced garlic.” Next comes cherry tomatoes, sliced pepperoncini, chopped parsley and your favourite smoked fish.
Couscous With Lemon, Herbs + Feta. Here’s a quick, reasonably priced and satisfying aspect that may be tweaked to swimsuit a wide range of components or accompany a variety of dishes.
Roasted Shrimp and Pea Couscous. You solely want 25 minutes to place collectively this meal that mixes skillet-toasted pearl couscous with shrimp baked with a lightweight coating of apricot jam. For the same mixture, take a look at Lemony Shrimp With White Beans and Couscous.
Israeli Couscous Salad With Chickpeas and Herbs. The chickpeas nudge this salad into foremost course territory, as do the walnuts and sunflower sprouts. You can swap in your selection of contemporary fruit relying on the season.
Couscous Salad With Summer Fruit and Arugula. Fresh fruit additionally shines on this salad that may be a foremost course or aspect. It’s loaded with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.
Moroccan Chicken Couscous. Pull out the Dutch oven for this speedy one-pot meal that’s vibrant with turmeric.