Spring has sprung, finally! The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, the barbecue is out and the warmth from the sun is a very welcome feeling. I'm more than ready to get my hands into the dirt to cultivate my garden. There's nothing better than doing my produce shopping in my garden! Right? Fresh spinach, lettuce, mint, chives to snip and baby tomatoes to pluck.
This recipe for Springtime Couscous can be made with orzo, or barley, but I like pearl couscous the best. It will be a staple for many Summer barbecues.
Ingredients:
1 cup pearl couscous
1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
1/4 cup scallions, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh mint, chopped
1 Tbsp parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small can of black olives, rinsed
1 tsp lemon zest
the juice from 1/2 lemon, squeezed
Cook the couscous according to package directions. In a mixing bowl, add all the remaining ingredients. When couscous is done, drain off any liquid remaining and add to the bowl. Blend well and add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for at least an hour, or longer.
The lemon and mint flavors are the perfect Springtime combination. You can easily increase the amounts to feed loads of people for a brunch or party. You'll love this cold salad!
You would think at my age (and I'm not telling!), I would already have sampled this pearl couscous! But, grocery stores don't resemble what they were 20-30 years ago. Food was so blah back then. A slab of meat, potatoes or rice and a few steamed vegetables usually appeared nightly on the dinner table. If you wanted a certain ethnic food, you might be able to get some tortillas and a can of refried beans! Seriously! Now, as I cruise the isles I'm open to trying just about anything for variety. It is the spice of life, right?
Israeli couscous is a type of pre-roasted pasta shaped like a small pearl. I first tried it in a store bought Trader Joe's salad. It looked interesting, why not! Like regular couscous it lends itself to experimentation. Hot or cold, alone, with olive oil or an assortment of veggies, the variations are endless! These are the type of meals I like!
Ingredients
1 cup pearl couscous
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup or 2 green onions, chopped
1/8 cup currents or raisins
1 Tbsp lemon zest
1 loosely packed chopped fresh arugula or spinach
1 Tbsp lime or orange juice
pinch of salt
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup parboiled chopped broccoli
1/2 cup raw cashews
In a pot, place couscous and add boiling water. Cover and cook on low heat for about 10 minutes until done. Drain and rinse with cold water. Add the remaining ingredients except the cashews and mix well. You'll add the nuts after chilling in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, at least. This is a great side dish for a picnic or brunch. You can make it ahead, even the day before.
NOTE: If you like your veggies cooked, throw them in a pan and saute a bit before adding to the couscous.
