Mediterranean Couscous Platter Food

HOW TO COOK COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, add broth or water. Add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. Bring to a boil.
• Now, toast the couscous. In a non-stick skillet or pan, heat about 1 to 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Add the couscous and toss around with a wooden spoon until golden brown. This is an optional step but can really adds a great nutty flavor.
• Stir couscous in the boiled liquid quickly and immediately turn the heat off. Cover and let sit for 10 minutes or until couscous has completely absorbed the broth or water.
• Uncover and fluff with a fork.
• You can serve couscous plain, or mix in spices and herbs to give it more flavor. If you like, add in a pinch of cumin, sautéed garlic, chopped green onions, and fresh herbs or your choice. Enjoy!

JEWELED COUSCOUS RECIPE WITH POMEGRANATE AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Wash the lentils under cold running water. Drain.
• Place the lentils in a saucepan and add 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 30 minutes until the lentils cook through (they should absorb all the water). Add a pinch of salt and remove from heat.
• While the lentils are cooking, make the couscous. In a saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Remove from heat then stir in couscous, turmeric, pinch of salt, 1/2 tbsp olive oil. Cover and let sit 5 minutes to finish cooking. Fluff with a fork and give it a try. If needed, stir in just a little more boiled vegetable broth.
• In a large cast iron skillet like this one, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Add the mushrooms. Cook for 4 minutes on high, tossing occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to gain color. Reduce heat to medium-high, and stir the onions and garlic and cook a couple more minutes.
• In the same skillet, add in the cooked lentils and couscous. Add salt, cinnamon, paprika, cardamom, coriander, and black pepper. Mix the pomegranate molasses and lemon juice with 1 tbsp olive oil, and add the liquid to the skillet with the couscous and lentil mixture. Toss to combine. Cook on medium, stirring regularly until warmed through.
• Remove from the heat and add the remaining ingredients. You can transfer to a larger mixing bowl, and using a large wooden spoon, mix to combine. Transfer the couscous to a serving platter and garnish with more pomegranate seeds and nuts.

MEDITERRANEAN BROCCOLI COUSCOUS PLATTER

Steps:

• Heat olive oil over low heat. Add garlic, onions, and broccoli; cook, stirring, until onions are translucent.
• Spread couscous on a plate and top with chicken. Spoon vegetable mixture over chicken and serve.

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pine nuts in a single layer on an ungreased, rimmed baking sheet. Toast in the oven until fragrant and lightly golden, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Keep an eye on them and DO NOT WALK AWAY during the last few minutes to make sure those precious pine nuts do not burn. Immediately transfer them to a bowl to stop their cooking and to make sure the hot pan doesn't burn them once they are out of the oven.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for 3 minutes, until they begin to soften. Add the salt, pepper, and cumin and cook for 30 seconds.
• Pour in the broth. Increase the heat to high and bring it to a boil. As soon as the liquid begins to boil, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the couscous, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
• With a fork, fluff up the couscous. Add the raisins, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, and toasted pine nuts to the pot, then stir the ingredients together to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Enjoy hot.

MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE PLATTER

Steps:

• Favoring one side of a small wooden board, spoon and swirl the hummus directly on the board. Do the same with the roasted pepper hummus, favoring the other side of the board. Fill in the gaps with the peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, pita and crackers. Drizzle the vegetables and hummus with the olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Put the couscous in a large mixing bowl. Put the chicken stock and apricots in a saucepan, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour the boiling liquid over the couscous, and shake the bowl to moisten every grain. Sprinkle the olives and scallions over the top and cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let stand 10 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed.
• To serve, season the couscous with salt and pepper and fluff with a fork. Serve warm or at room temperature.

MEDITERRANEAN FISH & COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Take one small sheet of foil, about A4 size, and put one fish fillet on top. Season the fish, then drizzle with half of the lemon juice and zest, half the sliced chillies and half of the basil.
• Halve 4 of the tomatoes and put these around the fish. Place another sheet of foil on top and fold the edges together to seal. Repeat with the other piece of fish and transfer to a baking sheet. Cook for 15-18 mins until the bag has puffed up (or cook on the barbecue).
• While the fish is cooking pour 100ml of boiling water over the couscous, cover, then leave to swell for 5 mins. Chop the rest of the tomatoes and mix with the couscous, balsamic, cucumber, the remaining basil, lemon juice and zest and olives. Season and serve alongside the fish with the lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over.

MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients EXCEPT couscous in a pot. Bring to a boil uncovered.
• Remove from heat and immediately stir in couscous. Let stand 5 minutes, covered.
• Fluff with a fork **Important** or it turns to a brick!
• Can be served hot or chill to make a wonderful salad.

MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring broth to a boil and gradually add coucous. Remove from heat and cover.
• Wait 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.
• Combine all ingredients except oil and lemon juice.
• Wisk juice and oil pour over mixture and toss gently.
• If using feta add now.
• Enjoy.