**Israeli Couscous with Pine Nuts and Fresh Parsley: A Culinary Journey to the Levant**
Embark on a culinary journey to the vibrant Levant region with this delectable Israeli couscous dish, a delightful blend of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. Couscous, a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine, takes center stage in this recipe, offering a hearty and wholesome base for a medley of fresh ingredients. Pine nuts add a nutty crunch, while the vibrant parsley brings a burst of freshness, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. This versatile dish can be served as a main course or as a delectable side, and it's sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.
**Additional Recipe Options:**
* **Israeli Couscous with Roasted Vegetables:** Indulge in a colorful and nutritious twist on the classic Israeli couscous. Roasted vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, and broccoli, add a delightful sweetness and a touch of smokiness to the dish.
* **Israeli Couscous Salad with Feta and Mint:** Experience a refreshing and flavorful Israeli couscous salad, where the tangy feta cheese and aromatic mint leaves combine to create a symphony of flavors. This salad is perfect for a light lunch or as a side dish to grilled meats.
* **Israeli Couscous with Chickpeas and Dried Fruit:** Discover a hearty and protein-packed Israeli couscous dish, where chickpeas and dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots, add a delightful嚼嚼texture and natural sweetness. This dish is a great option for a satisfying vegetarian meal.
ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS AND FRESH PARSLEY
Usually I purchase Israeli couscous in bulk, but a few weeks back I bought a box of it at Trader Joes partly because this recipe was printed on the back of the box. The original recipe indicates that the raisins are optional. You can skip them altogether if you wish (personally I wouldn't).
Provided by COOKGIRl
Categories Southwest Asia (middle East)
Time 33m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Add pine nuts and stir until golden brown. Transfer to a small bowl.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same pan over medium heat.
- Add shallots and saute until golden. Add couscous, cinnamon stick and bay leaf, stirring until couscous browns slightly.
- Add broth and salt then bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 10 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat and stir in the fresh parsley, pine nuts and lemon zest.
- Optional: add the raisins for a savory/sweet taste.
- Season with fresh cracked black pepper to taste.
ISRAELI COUSCOUS
Steps:
- Bring a small pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the Israeli couscous and cook until cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes. Strain from the water and reserve.
- Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and bring to high heat. After a few minutes, add the almonds to toast them in the oil. When the garlic is golden and very aromatic, remove it from the pan and discard it. Add the cooked couscous and chicken stock. Season with salt and cook until the stock has reduced by half. Add the pomegranate seeds, apricots, and scallions. Stir to combine and taste to make sure it is delicious.
- Serve hot or at room temperature.
COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the shallots and cook them over medium-low heat for 3 minutes, until translucent. Add the chicken stock, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat. Stir in the couscous, cover the pan, and set aside for 10 minutes. Add the pine nuts, currants, and parsley and fluff with a fork to combine. Serve hot.
TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS AND PARSLEY
Steps:
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and stir until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl.
- Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in same pan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add couscous, cinnamon stick, and 2 bay leaves and stir until couscous browns slightly, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add broth and salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until couscous is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Stir in parsley and pine nuts. Season with black pepper. Transfer to serving dish.
ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PRESERVED LEMON
Categories Citrus Nut Pasta Vegetable Side Roast Vegetarian Wedding Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur Dinner Lemon Raisin Pine Nut Squash Butternut Squash Healthy Couscous Gourmet Vegan Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 475°F.
- Halve lemons and scoop out flesh, keeping both flesh and peel. Cut enough peel into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1/4 cup. Put lemon flesh in a sieve set over a bowl and press with back of a spoon to extract juice.
- Toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil and salt to taste in a large shallow baking pan and spread in 1 layer. Roast in upper third of oven 15 minutes, or until squash is just tender, and transfer to a large bowl.
- Cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to turn golden. Add to squash.
- Cook couscous with cinnamon stick in a large pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain in a colander (do not rinse). Add couscous to vegetables and toss with 2 tablespoon oil to coat.
- Add lemon peel and juice, parsley, nuts, raisins, ground cinnamon, and salt to taste. Toss to mix well.
- To adapt this recipe to serve 50:
- 4 to 5 preserved lemons
- 5 lb. butternut squash, peeled and seeded
- 3/4 to 1 cup olive oil
- 3 cups chopped onion
- 7 cups Israeli couscous or acini di pepe (tiny peppercorn-shaped pasta), about 3 lb.
- 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
- 3 cups chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 cups pine nuts, toasted
- 2 cups golden raisins
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Preheat oven to 475°F.
- Halve lemons and scoop out flesh, keeping both flesh and peel. Cut enough peel into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1 cup. Put lemon flesh in a sieve set over a bowl and press with back of a spoon to extract juice.
- Cut enough squash into 1/4-inch dice to measure about 12 cups and toss with 1/3 cup oil and salt to taste. Roast in single layers in batches in your largest shallow baking pan in upper third of oven 15 minutes, or until just tender.
- Cook 1/2 of onion in 3 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to turn golden. Add to squash. Repeat with remaining onion and more oil.
- Cook couscous with cinnamon sticks in an 8-qt. pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender, and drain in a colander (do not rinse). Toss couscous with 3 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Add squash, onion, lemon peel and juice, and remaining ingredients. Season with salt (you'll need a lot) and toss to mix well.
Tips:
- Use high-quality couscous: Look for Israeli couscous made from durum wheat semolina, as it has a slightly nutty flavor and holds its shape well during cooking.
- Toast the pine nuts: Toasting the pine nuts in a dry skillet enhances their flavor and adds a nice crunch to the dish.
- Use fresh parsley: Fresh parsley adds a vibrant flavor and color to the dish. If you don't have fresh parsley, you can substitute dried parsley, but use half the amount.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste: Taste the dish before serving and adjust the seasoning as needed. You may want to add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice.
Conclusion:
Israeli couscous with pine nuts and fresh parsley is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a flavorful dish to impress your guests, this recipe is sure to please.
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