Buttered Couscous With Pomegranate And Almonds Food

COUSCOUS WITH POMEGRANATE, MINT AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl whisk together olive oil, vinegar, salt, fresh mint, fennel, pine nuts and za'atar if available. Add couscous and gently incorporate dressing and couscous with a fork. Add pomegranate seeds and again gently fold through but this time with a spoon. Allow salad to remain at room temperature for a half an hour so that flavors can blossom

BUTTERED COUSCOUS WITH POMEGRANATE AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Halve the pomegranates and pick out the seeds. Divide the couscous between two large mixing bowls and pour 570ml (1 pint) boiling water into each one. Cover with a clean cloth and leave for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a frying pan and add the almonds. Cook them until they are golden, stirring now and then. This will only take a few minutes. Keep an eye on them as they can burn quite easily.
• Season the cousous and fluff with a fork. Divide the buttery almonds, pomegranate seeds and herbs between the bowls of couscous and stir.

BROWN-BUTTER COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat; continue cooking until butter is fragrant and nutty brown in color, but not burned. Add browned butter to couscous and season with salt. Serve.

POMEGRANATE CHICKEN WITH ALMOND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Boil the kettle and heat the oil in a large frying pan. Put the couscous in a bowl with some seasoning and crumble in half the stock cube. Add the onion to the pan and fry for a few mins to soften. Pour boiling water over the couscous to just cover, then cover the bowl with a tea towel and set aside.
• Push the onion to one side of the pan, add the chicken fillets and brown on all sides. Stir in the tagine paste or harissa and the pomegranate juice, then crumble in the rest of the stock cube and season well. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked through. Stir through the pomegranate seeds, saving a few to scatter over before serving.
• After 5 mins, fluff up the couscous with a fork and stir through the almonds and mint. Serve the chicken on the couscous with the sauce spooned over.

BUTTERY COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Soak the couscous in the warm water with the salt for 10-15 mins, until it's been absorbed. Gently break up the grains with a fork and add sunflower oil. Rub the oil into the grains to break them up. Aerate by lifting them up in your fingers and letting them fall.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Tip the couscous into an ovenproof dish and dot with little bits of butter. Soak a piece of greaseproof paper in water and squeeze out the excess before laying it over the top of the couscous. Place in the oven for 15-20 mins.