Best 5 Crunchy Sweet Quinoa Couscous With Fresh Herbs Recipes

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Embark on a culinary journey with our delectable Crunchy Sweet Quinoa Couscous with Fresh Herbs, a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. This vibrant dish boasts a medley of textures, from the nutty crunch of quinoa and couscous to the refreshing burst of herbs. Quinoa, an ancient grain packed with protein and fiber, combines seamlessly with couscous, a North African staple made from semolina flour. Together, they create a delightful base for a vibrant medley of fresh herbs, including parsley, cilantro, and mint, which add a pop of color and a burst of aromatic freshness. Drizzled with a tangy lemon-tahini dressing, this dish is a perfect balance of sweet and savory, making it a versatile side or main course. Enjoy it as a warm lunch or a cold salad, or pack it for a satisfying on-the-go meal. With its vibrant colors, tantalizing textures, and explosion of flavors, this Crunchy Sweet Quinoa Couscous with Fresh Herbs is sure to become a favorite in your recipe repertoire.

**Additional Recipes Included**:

1. **Quinoa Tabbouleh**: A refreshing and flavorful salad featuring quinoa, fresh herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing.

2. **Mediterranean Quinoa Salad**: A hearty and wholesome salad combining quinoa, roasted vegetables, feta cheese, and a tangy dressing.

3. **Quinoa-Stuffed Bell Peppers**: A colorful and delicious dish featuring bell peppers stuffed with a savory quinoa filling, topped with a creamy cheese sauce.

4. **Quinoa Black Bean Burgers**: A nutritious and protein-packed burger made with quinoa, black beans, and a blend of spices, served on a whole-wheat bun with your favorite toppings.

5. **Quinoa Crusted Chicken Tenders**: A unique and crispy twist on classic chicken tenders, coated in a flavorful quinoa crust and baked to perfection, served with a dipping sauce of your choice.

These additional recipes offer a variety of ways to enjoy the versatility of quinoa, from salads and burgers to stuffed peppers and chicken tenders. Each dish is packed with flavor and provides a satisfying and nutritious meal.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

OUR FAVORITE LEMON HERB COUSCOUS SALAD



Our Favorite Lemon Herb Couscous Salad image

We love this light couscous salad - it doubles as a side, can be the main event or works well topped with grilled chicken or Adam's favorite, shrimp! With lots of texture from crisp cucumber, sweet tomatoes, crunchy nuts and raisins, this is certainly one of our favorites. You can even make it ahead of time. See the notes section below for our tips.

Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher

Categories     Side Dish

Time 20m

Yield Makes approximately 8 (1 cup) servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 1/2 cups dried Israeli couscous, also called pearl couscous
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 to 4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice, depending on taste
1 medium English cucumber, diced
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh herbs; use any combination of fresh parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, or mint
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/4 cup raisins, we love golden raisins

Steps:

  • Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain.
  • While the couscous cooks, in a large bowl, whisk the oil, mustard, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the drained couscous to the dressing and mix well.
  • Stir in the cucumber, tomato, herbs, walnuts and raisins. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and/or pepper as needed. Enjoy warm or cover then refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cup, Calories 219, Protein 5 g, Carbohydrate 29 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, Fat 9 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 160 mg

HERBED QUINOA



Herbed Quinoa image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     side-dish

Time 23m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups quinoa
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons lemon zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • For the quinoa: In a medium saucepan, add the chicken stock, lemon juice and quinoa. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan and cook until all the liquid is absorbed, about 12 to 15 minutes.
  • For the dressing: In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, basil, parsley, thyme, and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Pour the dressing over the quinoa and toss until all the ingredients are coated. Transfer the quinoa to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.

COUSCOUS SALAD WITH DATES AND ALMONDS



Couscous Salad with Dates and Almonds image

Categories     Salad     Bean     Side     Vegetarian     Quick & Easy     Date     Almond     Healthy     Vegan     Couscous     Cilantro     Bon Appétit     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added     Kosher

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 10-ounce box couscous
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (generous) grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 15- to 16-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
2/3 cup chopped pitted dates
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/4 cup minced green onions
Fresh cilantro sprigs

Steps:

  • Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to boil in medium saucepan. Add couscous; stir 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Transfer to large bowl to cool.
  • Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, lemon peel, and cardamom to blend in small bowl. Drizzle over couscous. Mix in garbanzo beans, dates, almonds, minced cilantro, and green onions. Season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Garnish with cilantro sprigs.

COUSCOUS WITH HERBS AND LEMON



Couscous with Herbs and Lemon image

Categories     Citrus     Herb     Side     Picnic     Quick & Easy     Mint     Summer     Couscous     Parsley     Gourmet     Sugar Conscious     Kidney Friendly     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added     Kosher

Yield Makes 6 side-dish servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 cup water
1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (10 fl oz)
1 (10-oz) box couscous (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

Steps:

  • Cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add water and broth and bring to a boil.
  • Stir in couscous, then cover and remove from heat. Let couscous stand, covered, 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and stir in herbs, lemon juice, remaining tablespoon oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

QUINOA WITH CORN AND ZUCCHINI



Quinoa With Corn and Zucchini image

Sweet corn and nutty-tasting quinoa make a nice combination that is also nutritionally rich. Quinoa has more iron than any other grain, and it's a good source of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and copper. It's also a good source of protein.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     side dish

Time 1h

Yield Serves six to eight

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup regular or red quinoa
3 cups water, chicken stock or vegetable stock
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1 to 2 garlic cloves (to taste), minced
Kernels from 1 ear corn
1 medium zucchini, cut in small dice
2 to 4 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 to 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta (optional)

Steps:

  • Place the quinoa in a bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit five minutes. Drain through a strainer, and rinse until the water runs clear.
  • Bring the water or stock to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Heat another medium saucepan or lidded skillet over medium-high heat, and add the quinoa. Toast, stirring, until the grains have separated and begin to smell fragrant. Add the water or stock and salt. It should come to a boil quickly. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until the quinoa is tender and translucent and each grain displays a little thread. Drain and return to the pan. Cover the pan with a clean dish towel, replace the lid and allow to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes, and add the garlic, corn and zucchini. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until the zucchini is tender and translucent and the corn tender, five to eight minutes. Stir in the quinoa and toss together. Heat through, add the herbs and serve with a little crumbled queso fresco or feta sprinkled on top if desired.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh herbs, flavorful vegetables, and a good quality quinoa and couscous blend will make all the difference in the taste of your dish.
  • Don't overcook the quinoa and couscous: Cook them according to package directions, but be careful not to overcook them, or they will become mushy.
  • Toast the quinoa and couscous before cooking: This will give them a nutty flavor and help them to cook evenly.
  • Use a variety of fresh herbs: The more herbs you use, the more flavorful your dish will be. Some good options include parsley, cilantro, mint, and basil.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment: This recipe is a great base for customization. Feel free to add other vegetables, nuts, or seeds.

Conclusion:

This crunchy sweet quinoa couscous with fresh herbs is a delicious and healthy side dish that's perfect for any occasion. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With its sweet and tangy dressing, this dish is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

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