Embark on a culinary journey to the vibrant flavors of North Africa with our tantalizing couscous with red peppers. This delightful dish is a symphony of textures and tastes, featuring fluffy couscous, crisp red peppers, aromatic spices, and a hint of sweetness from succulent raisins. Join us as we explore two enticing variations of this classic recipe: a vegetarian delight and a succulent chicken extravaganza. In the vegetarian version, roasted red peppers, zucchini, and chickpeas dance harmoniously with couscous, creating a colorful and nutritious feast. Alternatively, the chicken rendition tantalizes taste buds with tender chicken breast, red peppers, and a savory blend of spices, sure to satisfy meat lovers. Both recipes promise an explosion of flavors that will transport you to the bustling souks of Morocco.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
RAINBOW BELL PEPPER COUSCOUS
This super-easy side dish can be served warm, but it's also delicious chilled and served as a salad.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add the garlic and shallots and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 2/3 cup water, the bell peppers, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste, bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the peppers just begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the couscous, immediately cover and remove from the heat. Let stand, covered, until the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 7 minutes.
- Transfer to a platter or large bowl and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.
HEALTHY VEGETABLE AND COUSCOUS STUFFED PEPPERS
This dish looks particularly vibrant when you use a combination of sweet yellow, red and orange bell peppers. Pick the largest ones you can find, with the flattest, most stable bottoms so they remain standing once they're stuffed and baked in the tomato sauce. These peppers are delicious hot out of the oven or served Mediterranean-style at room temperature.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 2h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cut off the very tops of the peppers. Remove and discard the ribs and seeds and set the peppers aside.
- Drain the tomatoes in a colander set over a medium bowl. Reserve the juice and set the tomatoes aside over a plate to catch any residual juices. Stir the couscous, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper into the tomato juice and set aside while preparing the filling.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, zucchini, half the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened and just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Increase the heat to high, stir in the couscous mixture and simmer rapidly, stirring frequently, until the couscous is just al dente and the liquid is beginning to thicken, about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach and cook, adjusting the heat if necessary, until the leaves are bright green and just beginning to wilt, about 30 seconds. Set the filling aside to cool slightly.
- To make the sauce, combine the remaining garlic and olive oil in a Dutch oven, add the chile flakes if using and stir to combine. Place the pot over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally at first then more frequently as the oil starts to sizzle to prevent the garlic from burning, until the garlic starts to stick to the edge of the spoon and is just beginning to turn a very pale straw color, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the reserved drained tomatoes plus any accumulated juices, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture just begins to come together and thicken, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Fold the feta and basil into the couscous filling. Fill a pepper with about 3/4 cup of the filling, scooping it in loosely and shaking the pepper to level the filling rather than packing it down. Nestle the filled pepper in the sauce in the pot, then repeat with the remaining peppers, propping them up against each other and the sides of the pot for stability during baking.
- Cover the pot and bake until the peppers are tender but not mushy and the sauce is bubbling, 45 to 60 minutes. Check after 45 minutes to see if the peppers are tender but not soft or they will be overcooked and mushy. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature with a generous scoop of the tomato sauce.
RED BELL PEPPER COUSCOUS
Posted for ZWT - NA*ME. ETA : I made it on July 26, 2011. I used chicken broth and used only red bell pepper. We loved it.
Provided by Boomette
Categories Onions
Time 16m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a small saucepan, heat oil at medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, thyme, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until veggies have softened.
- Pour the vegetable broth in the saucepan and bring to boil. Add couscous and stir. Cover and remove from the heat. Let rest 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
COUSCOUS WITH RAISINS AND RED PEPPERS
Provided by Pierre Franey
Categories dinner, easy, lunch, quick, weekday, main course, side dish
Time 15m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a saucepan with a tight lid, heat the olive oil. Add the onions and red peppers, and cook and stir until wilted. Do not brown. Add the water, raisins, cinnamon, cumin, orange rind, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
- Remove from the heat, add the couscous and stir well. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Uncover, add the butter and fluff well with a fork. Serve with the tuna.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 267, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 46 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 394 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams
COUSCOUS SALAD WITH CORN AND RED BELL PEPPER
Categories Salad Onion Pasta Pepper Vegetable Side Quick & Easy High Fiber Summer Gourmet Vegan Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Serves 2 as a side dish
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a heavy skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté corn, stirring, until golden. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, cumin, and 1/4 cup water and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until bell pepper is crisp-tender.
- While vegetables are cooking, in a small heavy saucepan bring remaining cup water to a boil and stir in couscous and salt to taste. Cover pan and remove from heat. Let couscous stand 5 minutes and fluff with a fork.
- In a bowl whisk together vinegar, remaining tablespoon oil, and salt to taste until emulsified. Add vegetable mixture, couscous, coriander, and cayenne and toss to combine well.
COUSCOUS WITH TOMATOES, CAULIFLOWER, RED PEPPERS AND OLIVES
Cauliflower is one of the few cruciferous vegetables you find in North African tagines. The spicy tagines make a good vehicle for this nutrient-rich food and are one of the few types of dishes in which cauliflower can be cooked until quite soft and not lose its appeal.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, main course
Time 30m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the spices. Stir together for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is fragrant, and add the tomatoes. Cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the beans, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
- Add the tomato paste, harissa, red bell pepper, cauliflower, olives and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 30 minutes, or until the beans are tender. Stir in the chopped fresh herbs and simmer another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. Remove a cup of the broth for seasoning the couscous. The stew should be spicy and flavorful.
- Reconstitute and steam the couscous [ed: please link]. Serve the couscous in wide bowls or mound onto plates and top with the stew. Pass more harissa at the table.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 270, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 48 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 473 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams
COUSCOUS-STUFFED RED BELL PEPPERS
Looking for a quick and easy dinner served in a different way? Then this colorful meal-in-a-pepper is for you! And you don't precook the peppers, so they're very fresh-tasting.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 20m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Cook couscous in water as directed on box omitting oil; cover to keep warm.
- Meanwhile, in 8-inch square (2-quart) microwavable dish, arrange bell pepper halves; add 2 tablespoons water. Cover with microwavable waxed paper. Microwave on High 3 to 4 minutes or just until crisp-tender.
- Stir spinach and cheese into couscous. Spoon mixture into pepper halves.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 390, Carbohydrate 74 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 8 g, Protein 17 g, SaturatedFat 2 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 260 mg, Sugar 12 g, TransFat 0 g
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 SALAD WITH PEPPERS, OLIVES, AND PINE NUTS
Categories Fruit Nut Olive Pepper Side Vegetarian Low Cal Pine Nut Summer Gourmet Vegan Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Serves 6 to 8 as a side dish
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a small saucepan bring water to a boil with currants or raisins, salt, and 1 tablespoon oil. Stir in couscous and let stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to bowl.
- In a small skillet cook garlic in 2 tablespoons oil over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened. Stir onion mixture into couscous with vinegar, bell peppers, olives, capers, pine nuts, parsley, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Salad may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring salad to room temperature before serving.
- To roast peppers:
- Using a long-handled fork, char peppers over an open flame, turning, until skins are blackened, 2 to 3 minutes. (Or broil peppers on rack of a broiler pan under a preheated broiler about 2 inches from heat, turning every 5 minutes, until skins are blistered and charred, 15 to 25 minutes.) Transfer peppers to a bowl and let stand, covered, until cool enough to handle. Keeping peppers whole, peel them, starting at blossom end. Cut off tops and discard seeds and ribs.
ROASTED RED PEPPER COUSCOUS
If you can boil water then you can make this! A great way to liven up plain couscous especially if you love roasted red peppers as much as i do. You may have to go to a specialty grocery to find the nicoise olives (i havent looked for them in a regular grocery- they may have them im not sure) Anyway good luck and happy cooking.
Provided by kleigh83
Categories Grains
Time 30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the couscous in a large bowl.
- Bring 2 cups of lightly salted water to a boil.
- Pour the water over couscous and cover with plastic wrap.
- Let sit for 10 min.
- Uncover and fluff with a fork.
- Meanwhile heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the onion and zucchini and cook until lightly browned.(about 5 min)
- Add the zucchini and onion, along with the remaining ingredients to the couscous and mix well.
- Season with aditional salt and freshly ground pepper if desired.
Tips:
- For the best results, use a good quality couscous. Look for one that is made from 100% durum wheat semolina.
- Be sure to toast the couscous before cooking it. This will help to bring out its nutty flavor.
- Use a vegetable broth or water to cook the couscous. This will help to add flavor to the dish.
- Add vegetables, herbs, and spices to the couscous to create a flavorful and colorful dish.
- Serve the couscous hot or cold. It can be served as a side dish or as a main course.
Conclusion:
Couscous is a versatile and delicious grain that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is a good source of fiber and protein, and it is also low in calories. With its nutty flavor and fluffy texture, couscous is a great addition to any meal.
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