Israeli Couscous Risotto With Squash Radicchio And Parsley Butter Food

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH SQUASH

Steps:

• Cook 1 1/2 cups Israeli couscous as the label directs. Meanwhile, cook 1 small chopped onion, 1 teaspoon chopped thyme, 1 cup cubed butternut squash, 3 chopped dates and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in a skillet with olive oil until just tender, 6 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water and cook 4 minutes. Stir in the couscous, 1/2 cup chopped pistachios and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley; season with salt and pepper.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS RISOTTO WITH SQUASH, RADICCHIO, AND PARSLEY BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and 2 teaspoons lemon peel. Cover and cook 5 minutes. Add couscous; sauté 2 minutes. Add broth and squash; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, uncovered, until couscous and squash are tender and mixture is still moist, about 10 minutes. Mix in radicchio and cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, finely chop parsley in mini processor. Add 4 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon lemon peel; blend well. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer couscous to bowl. Swirl half of parsley butter into top of couscous. Serve, passing remaining parsley butter.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F.
• Halve lemons and scoop out flesh, keeping both flesh and peel. Cut enough peel into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1/4 cup. Put lemon flesh in a sieve set over a bowl and press with back of a spoon to extract juice.
• Toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil and salt to taste in a large shallow baking pan and spread in 1 layer. Roast in upper third of oven 15 minutes, or until squash is just tender, and transfer to a large bowl.
• Cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to turn golden. Add to squash.
• Cook couscous with cinnamon stick in a large pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain in a colander (do not rinse). Add couscous to vegetables and toss with 2 tablespoon oil to coat.
• Add lemon peel and juice, parsley, nuts, raisins, ground cinnamon, and salt to taste. Toss to mix well.
• To adapt this recipe to serve 50:
• 4 to 5 preserved lemons
• 5 lb. butternut squash, peeled and seeded
• 3/4 to 1 cup olive oil
• 3 cups chopped onion
• 7 cups Israeli couscous or acini di pepe (tiny peppercorn-shaped pasta), about 3 lb.
• 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 3 cups chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 cups pine nuts, toasted
• 2 cups golden raisins
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Preheat oven to 475°F.
• Halve lemons and scoop out flesh, keeping both flesh and peel. Cut enough peel into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 cup. Put lemon flesh in a sieve set over a bowl and press with back of a spoon to extract juice.
• Cut enough squash into 1/4-inch dice to measure about 12 cups and toss with 1/3 cup oil and salt to taste. Roast in single layers in batches in your largest shallow baking pan in upper third of oven 15 minutes, or until just tender.
• Cook 1/2 of onion in 3 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to turn golden. Add to squash. Repeat with remaining onion and more oil.
• Cook couscous with cinnamon sticks in an 8-qt. pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain in a colander (do not rinse). Toss couscous with 3 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add squash, onion, lemon peel and juice, and remaining ingredients. Season with salt (you'll need a lot) and toss to mix well.