Saffron Zucchini And Herb Couscous Food

HERB CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB WITH HARISSA SAUCE AND SAFFRON ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ZUCCHINI AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the couscous: Set up a small pot of boiling water and season liberally with salt. Add the couscous and cook until al dente, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat a large saute pan with some oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced fennel and onions and season with salt. Cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the zucchini and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chickpeas, saffron, chicken stock and cooked couscous. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the chicken stock has reduced, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and toss in the chopped fennel fronds.
• For the lamb: Add the parsley, panko, pistachios, oil, rosemary and salt to taste to a bowl. Mix well to combine then set aside.
• Cut the rack of lamb in half so you have two pieces with four bones each. Sprinkle liberally with salt on all sides.
• Heat a large saute pan with some oil over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Sear the lamb, fat side down, until golden brown and a crust begins to form, about 5 minutes. Flip the lamb and sear on the underside as well as each side until golden brown, another few minutes each. Remove the lamb from the pan, place onto a sheet tray and discard the excess fat in the pan. Reserve the pan for the sauce. Place the rack of lamb into the oven and bake until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer when inserted into the center of the meat, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and brush the top side of the racks evenly with the mustard. Press the pistachio herb crust onto the rack, ensuring the crust adheres to the mustard. Place the crusted rack of lamb back into the oven until the crust is golden and the lamb reaches 135 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest before slicing. Once rested, slice each lamb rack into double chops.
• To the same pan that the lamb was cooked in, add some oil, the fennel, onions, crushed red pepper and salt to taste. Saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, garlic and harissa and stir to combine. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook until the sauce reduces by half and has slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Serve the sliced lamb alongside the couscous.

VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• 1. Bring the broth to a boil in a small saucepan, and turn off the heat. Add the pepper and saffron threads and allow to steep for at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a saute pan. Add the zucchini,carrots and onions and cook for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Bring the broth just back to a boil. Place the couscous in a large bowl and add the cooked vegetables. Pour the hot broth over them. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Add the basil and parsley. Toss the couscous and herbs with a fork, and serve warm .

SAFFRON COUSCOUS WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Place sesame seeds and pine nuts in small baking dish. Bake in preheated 400F oven until lightly golden, watching carefully so they don't burn, about 5 minutes. Or cook carefully on a skillet.
• In small skillet, on medium-high heat, melt butter. Add onion. Cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile in large saucepan, bring stock and saffron to boil over high heat. Remove from heat. Add couscous; stir. Cover; let stand 15 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• Toss with oil, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Add sesame seeds, pine nuts, onions, raisins and herbs. Toss gently. Season with salt and pepper.

POACHED CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES, CORIANDER AND SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken:
• In a shallow dish sprinkle the chicken with the cumin, the ginger, the salt, and the garlic, drizzle it with the oil, and rub it all over to coat it well. Chill the chicken, covered, for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• In a heavy saucepan cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until they are softened, stir in the ginger and the saffron, and cook the mixture for 30 seconds. Add the broth and 2 tablespoons each of the coriander and the parsley, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer it for 10 minutes. Add the chicken and the carrot and poach the chicken, covered, for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken, add the zucchini, and cook the mixture, covered, for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken with tongs to a cutting board and let it stand for 5 minutes. While the chicken is standing, add the olives and the remaining 1 tablespoon each of the coriander and the parsley to the pan, bring the liquid to a boil, and boil the mixture for 2 minutes.
• Prepare the couscous:
• Put the saffron in a small dish, set the dish on a rack set over a saucepan of the broth and 3/4 cup water, and bring the liquid to a boil. Heat the saffron for 1 minute, crumble it into the broth, and add the oil. Stir in the couscous, remove the pan from the heat, and let the couscous stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork before serving.
• Slice the chicken, divide it between 2 plates with the couscous, and spoon the vegetable mixture over it.