Couscous With Chickpeas Spinach And Mint Food

PEARL COUSCOUS WITH CREAMY FETA AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a 9-inch baking dish, cake pan or gratin dish, toss together tomatoes, scallions, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon vinegar, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and oregano sprigs. Roast until tomatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
• While tomatoes roast, heat the stock until it boils, then stir in remaining 1 teaspoon salt, adding more to taste. (You want a well-seasoned broth here to flavor the couscous.) Stir in cilantro, lemon zest and cumin.
• Remove tomatoes from oven and fold in couscous, chickpeas and hot stock mixture. Cover pan tightly with foil, and return to oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove foil and fold in about 3/4ths of the feta (save the rest for garnish) and Parmesan. Bake uncovered until feta starts to melt, another 5 minutes.
• To serve, pull out and discard herb sprigs if you like, and spoon couscous into bowls. Top with remaining feta, lots more herbs, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

COUSCOUS SALAD WITH TURMERIC, CHICKPEA AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Combine the turmeric, 2 tablespoons oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt with 2 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the couscous, cover, and remove from the heat. Let stand for at least 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the vinegar with the remaining 1/4 cup oil and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper in a very large bowl. Add the tomatoes and chickpeas and stir to coat.
• When the couscous is ready, scrape with a fork to fluff into bits. Pour into the tomato mixture, along with the onion, arugula and half the cheese. Fold gently until well mixed, then season to taste with salt and pepper, and dress with additional oil and vinegar, if desired.
• Divide among dishes and top with the remaining feta and the celery or chile, if using.

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS, SPINACH AND MINT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the spices. Stir together for about half a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and add the drained chickpeas, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add the tomato paste, the harissa and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender. Remove 1 cup of the broth to flavor the couscous.
• Reconstituting and steaming the couscous: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the couscous and salt to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the couscous and add the cup of broth you removed from the stew. Stir well, or moisten your fingers and rub the couscous with them to evenly distribute the oil and broth. Add enough water to cover by 1/2 inch and let sit for 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon or rub the couscous between your moistened thumbs and fingers, so that the couscous doesn't lump. The couscous will now be fairly soft; fluff it with a fork or with your hands. The traditional way to finish reconstituting the couscous is to place it above the simmering stew for 45 minutes. I find, however, that steaming it in a microwave results in perfectly fluffy couscous. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic and pierce the plastic with the tip of a paring knife. Heat at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully and allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plastic and fluff with forks or a spoon. Cover again with plastic and microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plastic as the couscous will be steamy. You can reconstitute the couscous a day ahead and reheat in the microwave shortly before serving.
• Shortly before serving, stir in the spinach and the mint. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. The stew should be spicy and flavorful. Serve the couscous in wide bowls or mound onto plates and top with the stew. Pass more harissa at the table.

COUSCOUS WITH PEAS AND MINT

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring 2 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Add the frozen peas, and boil for 1 minute. Stir in the couscous and butter; turn off the heat. Cover the pan and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Add the mint and lemon juice to the couscous and fluff with a fork. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if necessary.

CHICKPEA, SPINACH AND TOMATO COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and add the onions. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until onions are golden. Stir often.
• Add the garlic, spices and salt (not too much as the bouillon is also salted). Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and bouillon. Bring to a higher heat for about 3 minutes then let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce is flavorful but not too thick.
• Prepare the couscous grain according to package directions.
• Serve vegetables over warm couscous and decorate with fresh coriander. Enjoy!

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS, SPINACH AND MINT

Steps:

• 1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, about 5 minutes, and stir in a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the spices. Stir together for about half a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and add the drained chickpeas, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add the tomato paste, the harissa and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 45 mins to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender. Remove 1 cup of the broth to flavor the couscous. 2. Reconstituting and steaming the couscous: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the couscous and salt to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the couscous and add the cup of broth you removed from the stew. Stir well, or moisten your fingers and rub the couscous with them to evenly distribute the oil and broth. Add enough water to cover by 1/2 in and let sit for 20 mins, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir every 5 mins or rub the couscous between your moistened thumbs and fingers, so that it doesn't lump. The couscous will now be fairly soft; fluff it with a fork or with your hands. The traditional way to finish reconstituting the couscous is to place it above the simmering stew for 45 minutes. I find, however, that steaming it in a microwave results in perfectly fluffy couscous. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic and pierce the plastic with the tip of a paring knife. Heat at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully and allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plastic and fluff with fork or a spoon. Cover again with plastic and microwave for 2 to 3 more mins. Be very careful when you remove the plastic as the couscous will be steamy. 3. Shortly before sserving, stir in the spinach and the mint. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.

SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup broth in a large saucepan. Add onion, garlic and curry powder and saute until onion begins to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add remaining broth and spinach. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and black pepper, continue simmering until spinach is tender and chickpeas are heated through.
• Pour boiling water over couscous, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Divide couscous among bowls.
• Serve spinach-chickpea mixture over couscous.