Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pesto Couscous Salad Food

COUSCOUS WITH OLIVES AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/4 cup vegetable broth and water to a boil in a saucepan, stir in couscous, and mix in salt and black pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 8 minutes.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; stir in pine nuts and cook, stirring frequently, until pine nuts smell toasted and are golden brown, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan; cook and stir garlic and shallot in the hot oil until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir black olives and sun-dried tomatoes into garlic mixture and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often. Slowly pour in 1 cup vegetable broth and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce has reduced, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer couscous to a large serving bowl, mix with sauce, and serve topped with parsley and pine nuts.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and cover with warm water for 5 minutes, or until tender.
• In a food processor or blender combine sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, garlic, pine nuts and onion; process until well blended. Add vinegar, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and red wine, and process. Stir in olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt to taste.

PESTO CHICKEN WRAP WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Pour 1 1/2 cups boiling water mixed with 1/8 teaspoon of the salt over the couscous in a small bowl. Cover well and set aside.
• To make the pesto: Combine the garlic, basil, olive oil, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a blender. Blend well until smooth. Stir in the cheese.
• Toast the walnuts in a small heavy dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until aromatic, watching closely to prevent burning, about 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
• To assemble: Heat the tortillas, one at a time, directly on a gas flame, on a grill, or in a hot skillet, turning frequently, until hot and pliable, about 5 to 15 seconds each. Or heat, stacked between 2 damp paper towels, in the microwave for about 10 seconds per tortilla. Distribute 2 tablespoons pesto, 1/2 scant cup couscous, 3/4 to 1 cup chicken, and a quarter of the walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and peppers evenly over tortilla, leaving a 1-inch border. Roll up into a wrap. Complete the wraps with the remaining ingredients. Or if you prefer, prepare all at once, assembly-line style. Cut in half on the bias.

CHICKEN COUSCOUS WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook chicken, mushrooms, onion, garlic, sage in oil over medium heat.
• Add tomatoes to chicken mix.
• set aside.
• Boil water, add butter, and remove from heat.
• Add couscous.
• Add couscous to chicken mix and mix well or serve chicken mix over a bed of couscous.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place chicken in shallow baking dish, add chicken stock & white wine.
• Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
• Add sun dried tomatoes to dish (sprinkle them around the chicken so they are soaking in the wine & broth.
• Return to oven & bake uncovered for an additional 10-20 minutes or until juices run clear.
• When chicken is fully cooked, remove to plate or cutting board & shred using two forks.
• Set chicken aside & chop softened tomatoes into 1/2 inch pieces.
• In medium bowl stir together mayonnaise, chopped tomatoes, salt & pepper, pine nuts, shallots & asiago cheese.
• Serve on a bed of fresh spinach leaves or sandwich chicken salad mixture & spinach between two slices of fresh bread.

ROASTED PECAN COUSCOUS WITH SUN DRIED TOMATOES AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Spread the pecan pieces onto a baking sheet and place in a cold oven.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to begin roasting the pecans. Roast until aromatic, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the mushrooms, onion, and garlic in the melted butter until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Return the skillet to the heat. Melt 2 teaspoons butter in the skillet. Stir the water into the butter; bring to a boil. Put the couscous in a glass bowl; pour the butter and water mixture over the couscous. Immediately cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to sit until the couscous absorbs all of the moisture, 7 to 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Stir the toasted pecans, the mushroom mixture, the pesto, and Parmesan cheese through the couscous. Season with salt and pepper to serve.