Mexican Style Couscous With Roasted Corn Food

ROASTED CORN AND GARLIC COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Wrap garlic cloves tightly in foil and place on prepared baking sheet. Arrange corn on baking sheet next to garlic and sprinkle corn with the salt. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until garlic is soft and corn is golden, turning every 5 minutes to prevent corn from burning. Unwrap garlic and mince. Slice kernels from corn cob.
• Combine garlic, corn kernels and chicken broth in a medium saucepan. Set pan over medium-high heat and bring mixture to a boil. Stir in couscous, remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in green onions and pimento, and toss to combine.

COUSCOUS FRITTERS WITH FRESH CORN AND TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, corn, half of the cilantro, the onion, lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon of the cumin, the ketchup, and salt. Set aside.
• Prepare the fritters: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the broth, chili powder, butter, and remaining salt. Bring to a boil. Add the couscous in a stream. Stir once. Cover and remove from the heat. Set aside until the couscous is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and combine with the egg.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, pour vegetable oil to a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat until a pinch of couscous sizzles instantly. Place the couscous mixture, in 1/3 cup increments, into the skillet. With a spatula, flatten into croquettes 3 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Fry until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate with paper towels to drain. Keep warm in the oven.
• In another medium skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up with a fork, until thoroughly cooked, 6 to 8 minutes. With the spatula, transfer the meat to plate lined with paper towels to drain. Set aside.
• Spoon some of the salsa onto 4 individual dinner plates. Set a fritter in the center of each plate. Top with equal portions of sausage and additional salsa. Garnish with the remaining cilantro leaves and serve.

MEXICAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until tender.
• Stir in cumin and chile powder, and cook for 1 minute.
• Add broth, peas, tomato and cilantro, and bring to a boil.
• Stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat.
• Let stand for 5 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork before serving.

COUSCOUS WITH CORN AND RED PEPPER

Steps:

• Wash, trim, seed and chop the whole pepper; mince the garlic.
• Heat the oil in a nonstick pot; saute pepper and garlic in hot oil until pepper begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside.
• Bring water to boil in the pot, covered. Add couscous and corn; reduce heat to simmer; cover and cook about 5 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender.
• Meanwhile, wash, dry and chop basil to make 1 tablespoon and add to cooked couscous with salt. Add pepper and garlic and mix well.

COUSCOUS WITH CORN

Steps:

• Melt butter in saucepan.
• Add shallot and saute 1 to 2 minutes, or until tender.
• Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Add couscous, corn, pepper, cayenne and salt.
• Cover; remove from heat and set aside 5 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork.