Best 5 Vegetable Barley Couscous Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Embark on a culinary journey with our enticing Vegetable Barley Couscous, a delightful dish that harmonizes the goodness of vegetables, the heartiness of barley, and the delicate touch of couscous. This wholesome fusion of flavors and textures is a symphony of nutrition, catering to various dietary preferences, including vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options. Our collection of recipes offers a diverse range of culinary experiences, from the classic Vegetable Barley Couscous to tantalizing variations like the Mediterranean-inspired and flavorful Roasted Vegetable Barley Couscous. Each recipe is crafted with a unique blend of fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, and savory spices, ensuring a burst of flavors in every bite. Discover the versatility of barley couscous as we guide you through these delectable recipes, unveiling a world of culinary possibilities.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

VEGETABLE COUSCOUS



Vegetable Couscous image

Looking for a different way to serve vegetables? These tiny pasta granules act like a magnet, pulling together the flavors of the chicken broth and vitamin-rich veggies. Carrots, celery, peppers and zucchini add fresh crunch and bright color.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 medium carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup julienned sweet yellow pepper
1/4 cup julienned sweet red pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium zucchini, diced
1/4 cup minced fresh basil or 4 teaspoons dried basil
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Dash hot pepper sauce
1 cup uncooked couscous
1-1/2 cups chicken broth

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, saute the carrots, celery, onion and peppers in oil for 5-6 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add the next five ingredients. , Stir in couscous. Add broth; bring to a boil. Cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 5-8 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 272 calories, Fat 8g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 513mg sodium, Carbohydrate 43g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

SEVEN-VEGETABLE COUSCOUS



Seven-Vegetable Couscous image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h5m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

3 cloves garlic, smashed
2 small turnips, peeled and quartered
1 medium yellow onion, quartered lengthwise, root end intact
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
1/2 fennel bulb, thickly sliced lengthwise, root end intact
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 tablespoon peeled, chopped, fresh ginger
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons each ground cumin, paprika, and sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cinnamon stick, snapped in half
2 cups water
1 pound butternut squash
1 small zucchini, cut into 2-inch rounds
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley, tied together with kitchen string
1 cup canned whole peeled tomatoes, with their juices
2 cups cold water
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups uncooked couscous
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
Harissa (Tunisian hot sauce)

Steps:

  • For the stew: Put the garlic, turnips, onion, carrot, fennel, raisins, ginger, salt, cumin, paprika, sugar, turmeric, cloves, and cinnamon in a large soup pot with a tight-fitting lid. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the vegetables are somewhat soft, about 10 minutes. Halve and seed the butternut squash and cut it into wedges. Tie parsley sprigs together with kitchen string. Add squash, zucchini, chickpeas, and parsley sprigs to the pot. Using your fingers and working over the pot, tear the tomatoes into big pieces and add them to the pot with their juices. Simmer the stew, covered, until it is slightly thick and fragrant, and the vegetables are fork tender but not mushy, about 15 minutes. (You can test the vegetables a bit sooner, remove them as soon as they are tender, and return them to the pot when you are ready to serve. All the vegetables should be tender enough to cut with the side of a fork, but still hold their shapes.) Remove cinnamon sticks.
  • For the couscous: Bring water to a boil with the butter and salt in a small saucepan. Stir in the couscous, pull the saucepan off the heat, cover, and set aside until the water has been absorbed and the couscous is plump, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and fluff with a fork.
  • To serve, spread the couscous over a large serving platter and, using a slotted spoon, mound the vegetables in the center. Pour some of the broth over the vegetables and sprinkle with the almonds. Pass the remaining broth and the harissa, if desired, at the
  • table.

COUSCOUS BELBOULA (BARLEY COUSCOUS) RECIPE



Couscous Belboula (Barley Couscous) Recipe image

Couscous does not need to be made with semolina. Learn how to make barley couscous by steaming coarse barley grits in a couscoussier.

Provided by Christine Benlafquih

Categories     Side Dish

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 1/2 pounds dry barley couscous
1/4 cup vegetable oil
8 cups water , divided
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup chicken broth

Steps:

  • Gather the ingredients.
  • In a very large bowl, mix the dry barley couscous with the oil, using your hands to toss the barley and evenly distribute the oil.
  • Mix in two cups of water, tossing the barley with your hands and rubbing out any balls that clump together. Leave the barley to rest and absorb the water for 10 minutes.
  • Transfer the barley to the steamer basket. Place atop the couscoussier and seal the joint.
  • Allow the barley to steam for about 15 minutes, timing from when the steam rises from the couscous.
  • Turn the steamed barley back into the bowl and break it apart. Mix in another two cups of water and two teaspoons of salt, again tossing the couscous with your hands and rubbing out any balls that form. Leave the barley to rest and absorb the water for 10 minutes, then place back into the steamer.
  • Steam for a second time for about 15 minutes, timing from when the steam rises from the couscous.
  • After the second steaming has completed, turn the barley back into the bowl and break it apart. Mix in two cups of water and leave the couscous to rest and absorb the water for 10 minutes.
  • After the barley has dried a bit, mix in another two cups of water. Again, leave the barley to rest a few minutes so that it has time to absorb the water. At this point, the barley should feel al dente and somewhat heavy.
  • Steam the barley for the third time, for about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Place the barley couscous in a big serving bowl and toss in the butter and the broth. Mix well and serve (see tip below).
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 75 kcal, Carbohydrate 12 g, Cholesterol 2 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, Sodium 345 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 2 g, ServingSize 13 Cups Cooked Barley, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

BARLEY VEGETABLE SOUP



Barley Vegetable Soup image

Our taste testers loved this delicious vegetarian soup brimming with veggies and barley. Though it doesn't taste like it, the recipe from Mary Tallman of Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin has only 128 calories and 1 gram of fat!

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 8h40m

Yield 12 servings (about 3-1/2 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1-1/2 cups fresh baby carrots, halved
1-1/2 cups frozen cut green beans
1-1/2 cups frozen corn
3 celery ribs, thinly sliced
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups water
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) vegetable broth
1 cup medium pearl barley
1 bay leaf
1-3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian diced tomatoes, undrained

Steps:

  • In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first eight ingredients. Stir in the water, broth, barley, bay leaf and seasonings. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until barley and vegetables are tender. , Stir in tomatoes; cover and cook on high for 10-20 minutes or until heated through. Discard bay leaf.

Nutrition Facts :

BARLEY COUSCOUS WITH SEVEN VEGETABLES



Barley Couscous with Seven Vegetables image

Traditionally, the Berbers first made couscous with barley, and barley couscous is still very popular, especially in the south of Morocco. It is now available in precooked form from some Middle Eastern stores. You can substitute ordinary couscous. You can make the broth with lamb, beef, or veal (preferably shoulder, neck fillet, or knuckle) and with a choice of vegetables. According to local lore, seven is a magic number that brings good luck. Onions, tomatoes, and chili peppers count as flavorings, so you must have seven more vegetables. I have listed eight, so drop one. The number of ingredients makes it seem a scary endeavor, but it is only a matter of throwing things into a pot, and it makes a spectacular one-dish meal for a large party. You will need a very big pot.

Yield serves 10

Number Of Ingredients 25

5 cups barley couscous
5 cups warm water
1 to 2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup sunflower or vegetable oil
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
3 pounds meat (see above)
3 large onions
3/4 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight
Black pepper
1/2 teaspoon saffron powder or threads
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pound tomatoes, peeled and quartered
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into strips
1 pound small turnips, halved
1 small white cabbage, cut in chunks
1 pound new potatoes
2 chili peppers (optional)
Salt
4 stalks celery, halved
1 pound orange pumpkin, cut in 1-inch pieces
1 pound zucchini
1/2 pound young fava beans (shelled weight), or frozen fava beans, defrosted
1/2 cup chopped coriander
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

  • Prepare the couscous in a large, round, ovenproof dish as described on page 112, leaving the final heating in the oven to be done 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
  • Cut the meat into 10 pieces and the onions into quarters, then into thick slices, and put them in a large pan with the drained chickpeas. Cover with about 6 pints of water, bring to the boil, and remove the scum. Add the pepper (no salt is added at this stage since it would stop the chickpeas from softening), saffron, cinnamon, and ginger and simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
  • Now put in the tomatoes, carrots, turnips, cabbage, potatoes, cut in half or left whole if small, and the whole chilies, if using. Add salt, and cook for 30 minutes, or until the meat is very tender.
  • Add the celery, pumpkin, zucchini, cut into fat slices or left whole if they are baby ones, fava beans, and herbs. Add more water, if necessary, taste, and adjust the seasoning, and cook 30 minutes more.
  • About 20 to 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time-when the last vegetables go in-put the couscous into the oven, preheated to 400°F, and heat through until it is steaming hot, taking it out and fluffing it with a fork after about 10 minutes. Before serving, fork the butter, cut into small pieces, into the couscous and fluff up the couscous as it melts in.
  • To serve, moisten the couscous with a little broth and shape it into a cone with a crater at the top. Arrange some meat in the crater and some vegetables down the sides, then pour a little broth over the mound. Bring the remaining broth, meat, and vegetables to the table in another bowl. Alternatively, bring the couscous to the table in one dish, and the broth with the meat and vegetables in another, and serve them directly into individual bowls or soup plates.
  • Use 2 chickens cut into pieces instead of the meat.
  • For a peppery sauce, pass around a bowl with 3 to 4 ladles of the hot broth mixed with 1 tablespoon or more harissa or 2 tablespoons paprika and 1 teaspoon or more chili pepper. Although this was originally a Tunisian and Algerian custom, not Moroccan, the French like it as do some of us now.

Tips:

  • For a chewier texture, use pearl barley. For a lighter texture, use quick-cooking barley.
  • Toast the barley before cooking to enhance its nutty flavor.
  • Use vegetable broth instead of water for a more flavorful dish.
  • Add a variety of vegetables to your couscous, such as carrots, celery, zucchini, and tomatoes.
  • Stir in some fresh herbs, such as parsley, cilantro, or basil, before serving.
  • Serve with a dollop of yogurt or a squeeze of lemon juice.

Conclusion:

Vegetable barley couscous is a delicious and healthy side dish that can be served with a variety of main courses. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With its hearty texture and flavorful ingredients, vegetable barley couscous is sure to be a hit at your next meal.

Related Topics