Balsamic Couscous Food

TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD WITH GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard and garlic, slowly add the olive oil and whisk until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 the marinade over the vegetables and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Preheat the grill. Remove the vegetables from the marinade and grill the vegetables until just cooked through. Cut the zucchini and peppers into 1/2-inch pieces, cut the tomatoes in half. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, add the couscous and toast until lightly golden brown. Cover the couscous with the hot stock and hot water and bring to a boil, cook until al dente and drain well. Place in a large serving bowl, add the grilled vegetables and herbs and toss with the remaining vinaigrette. Serve at room temperature.

TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH VEGETABLES AND LEMON-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Heat large saute pan on grates of the grill over medium heat. Add couscous and toast until lightly golden brown.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil over high heat, add 1 tablespoon salt and toasted couscous and cook until al dente. Drain well and place in a large bowl. Add grilled vegetables, olives, basil, and vinaigrette and toss until combined; season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving or cover and refrigerate.
• Whisk shallot, juice, zest, vinegars, and salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified.

BALSAMIC TOMATO COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium pan, bring the broth to a boil.
• When it is boiling add the basil and garlic and stir. Then add the couscous, cover the pan, and remove it from the heat. Let sit 5-10 minutes.
• Chop the tomatoes.
• In a small bowl mix the balsamic vinegar, the oil, and the pepper. Add the tomatoes.
• When the couscous is ready add the tomato mixture and mix well.
• Serve hot or cold.

BALSAMIC COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over low heat. Saute onion and garlic slowly until tender, approximately 15 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Add couscous, cover pan, remove from heat, and let stand for 5 - 10 minutes.
• Pour couscous into a bowl and top with vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir until combined. You may wish to add less or more vinegar depending on what you like. 3T works for us.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN WITH GARLIC COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place chicken in a shallow dish and pour over the combined vinegar, chicken stock, sugar and garlic.
• Let marinate at least 10 minutes per side.
• To make couscous: pour boiling stock over couscous in a large bowl.
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand for 5 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
• Heat butter or margarine over medium-low heat and saute garlic and thyme for about 3 minutes (garlic should be soft but not brown).
• Add the couscous to the pan and stir for 3 minutes.
• To cook the chicken, preheat an oiled frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Cook chicken about 4 minutes per side.
• Add the marinade to the pan and cook for an additional 1 minute per side or until the chicken is cooked through and the marinade has thickened.
• Place couscous and top with chicken and sauce.

TOMATO BALSAMIC CHICKEN WITH SPINACH AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Wash spinach leaves a few minutes ahead of time and allow to dry in a salad-spinner or colander.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken and cook about 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove the chicken and set aside. To the same pan, add the spinach and cook just until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. Lower the heat to medium and add the balsamic vinegar and chicken broth to the pan and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer and cook 3 to 5 minutes.
• Place the couscous in a serving bowl. Top with the spinach, chicken and balsamic-tomato sauce.
• *A few pointers:.
• I use either thin-sliced chicken or pound the chicken so it's about a 1/2 inch thick. It cooks much more evenly that way. This recipe is also tasty with a dash or two of dried basil and rosemary and a few turns of fresh ground black pepper added to the vinegar/tomato mixture. The prep time of this recipe includes washing the spinach, cooking the couscous and pounding the chicken.