For those looking for a unique and delectable plant-based meal that blends sweet and savory flavors, look no further than the combination of dates and almonds in couscous. This Middle Eastern inspired dish, called Date and Almond Couscous, offers a delightful interplay of textures and tastes. The chewy texture of couscous pairs perfectly with the tender dates and crunchy almonds, while the combination of warm spices and zesty lemon adds depth and freshness. Accompanying this main recipe are two additional variations to cater to different dietary preferences: a gluten-free version that substitutes quinoa for couscous, and a vegan alternative that uses maple syrup instead of honey. These recipes promise an explosion of flavors and nutrients, making them ideal for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
Let's cook with our recipes!
SPICED HERB & ALMOND COUSCOUS
This full-flavoured recipe is perfect in summer, it tastes as good hot it does cold
Provided by Jane Hornby
Categories Buffet, Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Side dish, Snack, Supper, Vegetable
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat some oil in a roasting tray and then add the onions and fry for about 5 mins until just softened. While you're frying, add the saffron strands to the stock if using, so the flavour and colour infuses. (If you are making the Fragrant chicken too (see 'Goes well with') use the same pan to add flavour to this dish and leave the juices in there, but you can tip out some of the chicken fat if you like).
- Tip the chilli into the tray, fry for 1 min more, then take off the heat. Add the couscous and stock, then cover with cling film for 10 mins. Once the couscous has absorbed all the stock, quickly chop the coriander (if you chop it too soon it will start to wilt), then fork it through the couscous with the almonds, dates and lemon juice and serve straight away. To serve cold, leave to cool, then add the chopped coriander just before eating.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 297 calories, Fat 6 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 53 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 10 grams protein, Sodium 0.37 milligram of sodium
ORANGE AND ALMOND COUSCOUS
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Toast nuts in the bottom of a medium saucepot over medium heat. Transfer toasted nuts to a dish and reserve. Return pot to the stove top. Add broth and oil, cover pot and raise heat; bring the broth to a boil. Remove pot from heat, immediately. Add couscous, orange zest and parsley, then stir. Cover and let couscous stand 5 minutes. Fluff cooked couscous with fork and toss with toasted almonds.
- TIDBIT: Slice zested oranges and serve them after dinner.
COUSCOUS SALAD WITH DATES AND ALMONDS
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
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.
TOASTED ALMOND AND ORANGE COUSCOUS
Provided by Food Network
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan and add chopped onion. Saute until soft. Add orange juice, orange zest, turmeric, clove and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover and turn off heat. Let sit covered for 5 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with a fork. Gently stir in almonds and scallions.
YVONNE MAFFEI'S ROAST CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS, DATES AND BUTTERED ALMONDS
Deglet Noors dates shine when they are cooked in chutneys, desserts or North African dishes like this whole roast chicken. The chicken is cooked with fluffy couscous that absorbs the sweetness of dates and the butteriness of toasted almonds. Supermarket Deglet Noors are often dark brown and hard, because they have been kept well past their natural point of ripeness; seek out soft, light-colored ones for the best flavor.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories dinner, lunch, roasts, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large ovenproof dish or pot with a tight lid, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, the ginger, the pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken and rub it around in the mixture until evenly coated. Turn chicken breast side down and roast, uncovered, for 50 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine couscous, 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside for 5 to 15 minutes to soak.
- In a small skillet, melt the butter. Add almonds and cook, stirring constantly, just until toasted and golden; adjust heat so almonds and butter do not scorch. Turn off heat and stir in dates.
- Add almond-date mixture to couscous, along with any butter left in pan, and mix, fluffing the grains with a fork. Mix in 2 tablespoons olive oil, the sugar, the cinnamon and the orange blossom water (if using).
- Drizzle or paint honey over top of chicken (leave chicken breast-side down in pot). Add couscous mixture to the pot, arranging it around the chicken. Cover tightly with a lid or foil and return to the oven for 30 minutes more.
- Remove from the oven. When cool enough to handle, remove chicken and carve into serving pieces. Stir and fluff couscous, scraping up any chicken skin stuck to bottom of pan, and place chicken pieces back on top of couscous. Sprinkle with chopped herbs and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 913, UnsaturatedFat 32 grams, Carbohydrate 68 grams, Fat 50 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 48 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 967 milligrams, Sugar 19 grams, TransFat 0 grams
COUSCOUS WITH DATES, RAISINS, AND ALMONDS
This is a slightly sweet recipe of middle eastern origin. You can add more sugar if you like, but for those wanting to cut down on sugar and fat, this is a great way to indulge in a bit of sweet with an ethnic flair.
Provided by Linda Lola
Categories Dessert
Time 15m
Yield 1 platter, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, orange peel and juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a boil. Add the couscous to the boiling water. Remove from heat and cover for ten minutes. Liquid should be absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
- In a small frying pan, heat the almonds over medium heat, stirring continuously until toasted. Add the raisins and dates and butter. Heat all until butter is melted.
- Serve couscous spread over a platter, top with topping mixture. Sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar over the top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 451.7, Fat 10.4, SaturatedFat 3, Cholesterol 10.2, Sodium 171.4, Carbohydrate 83.4, Fiber 6, Sugar 40.1, Protein 9.6
DATE AND ALMOND COUSCOUS
Dates, almonds, and olives are cooked with pearl couscous creating a sweet and savory Mediterranean-inspired meal.
Provided by Alli Shircliff
Categories Fruit Pasta Salad
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat; cook and stir onion in the hot oil until lightly browned and very tender, about 30 minutes.
- Stir couscous into onion mixture; turn heat to medium. Cook and stir couscous until fragrant and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Pour broth over couscous mixture and bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover skillet, and simmer until couscous has absorbed all the liquid, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat; cook and stir ham in the hot oil until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Mix ham, dates, almonds, olives, parsley, salt, and pepper into couscous mixture; cook and stir until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 416.7 calories, Carbohydrate 52.7 g, Cholesterol 18 mg, Fat 17.5 g, Fiber 5.5 g, Protein 13.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, Sodium 918.4 mg, Sugar 13.1 g
DATE AND ALMOND COUSCOUS
Dates, almonds, and olives are cooked with pearl couscous creating a sweet and savory Mediterranean-inspired meal.
Provided by Alli Shircliff
Categories Fruit Pasta Salad
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat; cook and stir onion in the hot oil until lightly browned and very tender, about 30 minutes.
- Stir couscous into onion mixture; turn heat to medium. Cook and stir couscous until fragrant and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Pour broth over couscous mixture and bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover skillet, and simmer until couscous has absorbed all the liquid, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat; cook and stir ham in the hot oil until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Mix ham, dates, almonds, olives, parsley, salt, and pepper into couscous mixture; cook and stir until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 416.7 calories, Carbohydrate 52.7 g, Cholesterol 18 mg, Fat 17.5 g, Fiber 5.5 g, Protein 13.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, Sodium 918.4 mg, Sugar 13.1 g
Tips:
- To achieve the best texture, use small-grain couscous.
- Lightly toast the almonds in a pan before adding them to the dish for a richer flavor.
- If you don't have fresh mint, use dried mint instead, but reduce the amount by half.
- For a sweeter couscous, add more honey or agave syrup to taste.
- Store leftover couscous in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Conclusion:
This Date and Almond Couscous is a delightful and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course, side dish, or salad. It's packed with flavor and texture, thanks to the combination of sweet dates, crunchy almonds, and fluffy couscous. The fresh mint adds a refreshing touch, while the lemon-tahini dressing brings it all together. You can easily customize the recipe to your liking by adding other ingredients, such as dried fruit, nuts, or vegetables. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special dish to impress your guests, this Date and Almond Couscous is sure to be a hit.
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