Ww Pumpkin Bacon And Herb Couscous Food

CREAMY PUMPKIN PASTA WITH CRISPY BACON

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 200°c and line a baking tray with foil.
• Combine the pumpkin, honey, salt and olive oil in a mixing bowl then transfer to the prepared baking tray. Add the thyme and place in the oven.
• Allow the pumpkin to roast for 30-45 minutes until starting to caramelize and cooked through.
• Remove from the oven, discard the thyme and transfer to a bowl then puree with an emersion blender. Add a splash of milk to make the blending a little easier.
• In a large frying pan, fry the onion and garlic until soft and translucent then add the pumpkin puree and stock. Allow to come to a simmer then stir in the bacon fat.
• Remove from the heat and add the parmesan cheese. Season to taste.
• Stir in the cooked pasta and toss to coat well. At this stage you can add a little of the pasta's cooking water to loosen the sauce if necessary.
• Serve the pasta topped with crispy bacon and a grating of Parmesan cheese.

HERBY COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups water, the butter and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, add the couscous. Return the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, for 8 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the saucepan and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Add the basil, chives, parsley, olive oil, dill, lemon zest and juice to a large bowl. Add the cooked couscous and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, toss to combine.

BACON & PUMPKIN PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a heavy-based saucepan, add 1 tbsp olive oil and pancetta or bacon, then cook for a few mins. Add remaining oil and the onion. Cook for 5 mins, until the onion softens and the pancetta is crispy.
• Stir in the butter, then tip in the pumpkin or squash and sage. Mix well to combine, then season. Cover and cook for 6-8 mins, stirring occasionally until the pumpkin is soft, but not falling apart.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to pack instructions. Drain and add to the pumpkin mixture. Stir in the parmesan and season. Serve in pasta bowls sprinkled with extra parmesan.

LEMON AND HERB COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring about 2 quarts of water and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil. Add couscous and cook until tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain.
• While the couscous cooks, in a small bowl, mix the oil, mustard, honey, lemon juice and zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Add cooked and drained couscous to a large bowl. Pour dressing over warm couscous; mix well.
• Add cucumber, tomato, herbs, raisins and walnuts to the couscous and stir. Taste for seasoning and add salt and/or pepper as needed.
• Enjoy warm or cover then refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.

STUFFED PUMPKIN (WITH BACON GRUYERE STUFFING)

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper (see last step for stovetop instructions). Using a very sturdy knife, cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin (like a Halloween jack-o'-lantern) by working your knife around the top in a circle at a 45 degree angle. Cut out a large enough cap to make it easy to work inside the pumpkin. Remove the seeds and strings from the cap and from inside the pumpkin. Season the inside of the pumpkin generously with salt and pepper and put it on the baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, toss the bread, cheese, garlic, bacon and herbs together. Season with salt and pepper to taste and pack the mixture into the pumpkin. The pumpkin should be well filled (you might have a little too much filling or you might need to add to it). In a small bowl, stir the cream and the nutmeg together, seasoning the mixture with salt and pepper, then pour it into the pumpkin (again, you might have too much or too little--the ingredients should not swim in cream but they should be nicely moistened).
• Put the cap in place and bake the pumpkin for 90 minutes. Remove the cap and return to the oven for another 20 to 30 minutes, until everything inside the pumpkin is bubbling and the flesh of the pumpkin is tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Remove the pumpkin very carefully (it will be heavy, hot and wobbly) and place it on the table or transfer it to a platter. To serve, either spoon out portions of the filling and pumpkin meat, or dig into the pumpkin meat with a large spoon and mix it into the filling before spooning out portions.
• You may also cook the pumpkin in a large Dutch oven and bring it directly to the table for serving.

WW PUMPKIN, BACON AND HERB COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Pour boiling water over the couscous and stock cube. Use only enough water to cover the couscous and stir occasionally until water is absorbed.
• Peel, slice and microwave pumpkin (leftover roast pumpkin would be extra nice).
• Cook bacon and dice.
• Chop fresh herbs.
• Combine all ingredients together.
• This dish would be nice hot, and spices could be substituted for the herbs.