Israeli Couscous With Lentils And Zucchini 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.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS AND GREEN LENTIL SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a medium saucepan with about six cups of water and bring to a boil. Rinse lentils under cold water then add to the saucepan. Return to a boil then reduce to low and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes, add the couscous. Cook couscous and lentils together for an additional 10 minutes, until lentils are tender but not falling apart, and couscous is al dente.
• Strain lentils and couscous and rinse well with cold water. In a large bowl, toss together the lentils, couscous, tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, and parsley.
• Make the dressing. In a blender or food processor, blend together the balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic cloves, sugar, and olive oil. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper and sprinkle with feta cheese.

ZUCCHINI STUFFED WITH CHICKPEAS AND ISRAELI COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour 1 cup water onto sheet; set aside. Using a small spoon, scoop out pulp from center of each zucchini, leaving a 1/4-inch-thick shell. Transfer pulp to a kitchen towel, and squeeze out excess liquid. Coarsely chop pulp; set aside. Sprinkle zucchini shells with 1 teaspoon salt. Place shells, cut side down, on paper towels to drain.
• Melt butter with oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallot, ginger, and jalapeno. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and saffron. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add zucchini pulp and chickpeas; cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes.
• Stir in 1 cup water. Bring to a boil. Add couscous, and return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has absorbed and couscous is tender, about 9 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and cilantro. Season with salt, if desired.
• Wipe zucchini shells to remove any liquid. Lightly season with salt. Mound about 1/4 cup filling into each zucchini shell. Transfer to prepared rack. Cover with foil, and bake until zucchini are tender and filling is heated through, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with sprigs of parsley and cilantro, and lemon wedges.

VEGGIES WITH ISRAELI COUSCOUS

Steps:

• 1. Place the oil in a large saucepan. Wilt the onion, zucchini, and garlic for 8 to 10 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring until tender. Add broth; cook 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook 1 minute more, stirring.
• 2. Add the couscous, basil, and parsley. Stir well, adjust the seasonings and heat through. Serve immediately.

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.

COUSCOUS WITH ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the garlic, onion, cumin, coriander, zucchini, salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until wilted, but do not brown.
• Add the water and bring to a boil. Add the couscous and blend well. Cover tightly, remove from the heat and let stand 5 minutes.
• Add the butter; stir and blend with a fork to separate the grains. Serve immediately.

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.