Spiced Herb Almond Couscous Food

SPICED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Toast and chop cashews or pistachios.
• Melt 1/4 c butter in medium saucepan over low heat.
• Add spices and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add stock and currants.
• Can be prepared 4 hours ahead, bring to boil.
• Mix in couscous and 2 tbsps.
• butter.
• Cover and remove from heat.
• Let stand 5 minutes.
• Fluff with fork; season with salt.
• Transfer couscous to bowl, add nuts and toss well.

COUSCOUS WITH SPICED ALMONDS

Steps:

• To prepare the almonds, heat the butter in a saute pan over medium heat until it is melted and bubbling. Add the almonds, cumin, turmeric, coriander, paprika, and salt. Saute until the almonds start to brown and the spices smell very fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool.
• To prepare the couscous, heat the stock in a saucepan over high heat until boiling, then season with salt and pepper. Place the couscous in a large bowl, pour the hot stock over the couscous, and cover with foil. Let stand until the stock is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, coarsely chop the cooled almonds. When the couscous has absorbed the stock, fluff with a fork, add the almonds, and mix well. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPICED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over a medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Transfer the almonds to a bowl.
• In a small bowl, stir together the cumin, garlic, cayenne pepper and salt. Heat the oil in the skillet over medium heat. Stir the spices into the oil and cook, stirring until warm, about 30 seconds. Add the almonds and cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts are warm and the spices are evenly distributed. Add the hot pepper sauce and stir to distribute. Remove the almonds from the pan and allow them to cool before serving.

COUSCOUS WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Put couscous in a large bowl and cover with boiling water.
• Cover and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring once or twice to fluff.
• Steam carrots, pepper and green beans until tender crisp.
• Add vegetables to couscous.
• Gently stir in onions, raisins and almonds, In a separate bowl, whisk oil, orange and lemon juice, cinnamon, parsley and dill.
• Pour dressing over couscous mixture, cover bowl and chill for 2 hours.

VEGETABLE TAGINE WITH ALMOND & CHICKPEA COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Fry the shallots in the oil for 5 mins until they are softening and browned. Add the squash and spices, and stir for 1 min. Pour in the stock, season well, then add the prunes and honey. Cover and simmer for 8 mins.
• Add the peppers and cook for 8-10 mins until just tender. Stir in the coriander and mint.
• Pour 400ml boiling water over the couscous in a bowl, then stir in the harissa with ½ tsp salt. Tip in the chickpeas, then cover and leave for 5 mins. Fluff up with a fork and serve with the tagine, flaked almonds and extra mint.

SPICED COUSCOUS WITH RAISINS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups hot water and raisins in small bowl. Soak raisins until softened, about 15 minutes. Drain water into large saucepan; reserve raisins. Add 2 tablespoons butter, wine, and saffron to pan; bring to boil. Stir in couscous. Cover, remove from heat, and let stand until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; cover and cook until translucent and tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix onion, reserved raisins, almonds, and cinnamon into couscous. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

COUSCOUS WITH MOROCCAN SPICES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a non stick pan and cook the chopped onion and garlic in it till the onion is soft and translucent.
• Stir in the cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, coriander, cayenne and paprika.
• Continue stirring over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then add vegetable broth, tomato puree and currants.
• Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes.
• Remove the sauce from heat and stir in fresh lemon (or lime) juice to your taste.
• If not using immediately and planning to reheat before serving, wait to add citrus juice at the last minute.
• To cook the couscous, heat the broth, water, butter and salt together in a medium skillet till the liquid boils.
• Reduce to a simmer, add the couscous, cover the skillet tightly and leave on the lowest heat for 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat an leave it covered for another couple of minutes before fluffing with a fork.
• (If using instant couscous, check package directions - you may not need to keep it on heat after boiling, but just cover and wait till liquid is absorbed - just see if liquid amounts match what is mentioned on the package).

COUSCOUS WITH GINGER, ORANGE, ALMOND & HERBS

Steps:

• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large saucepan with a tight lid. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft but not browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the orange juice and simmer until the liquid has nearly evaporated, about 10 minutes, stirring as needed to prevent the juice from caramelizing. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil.
• Remove from the heat, add the butter, couscous, and salt. Stir, and cover. Let stand for 15 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork. Stir in the almonds, herbs, and orange zest. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

SPICY ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. In another small bowl, whisk egg white until foamy. Add almonds; toss to coat. Sprinkle with spice mixture; toss to coat. Spread in a single layer in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Spread on waxed paper to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

SWEET AND SPICY ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the almonds onto a baking sheet, and toast until the nuts start to turn golden brown and become fragrant, about 10 minutes. Watch the nuts carefully as they bake: they burn quickly.
• Stir together the sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper in a mixing bowl; set aside.
• Stir together the water, honey, and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the mixture begins to bubble, stir in the toasted almonds until evenly moistened. Pour the almonds into the sugar and spice mixture, and toss until evenly coated. Spread onto baking sheets in a single layer, and cool to room temperature.