Couscous Sausage Mediterranean Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients EXCEPT couscous in a pot. Bring to a boil uncovered.
• Remove from heat and immediately stir in couscous. Let stand 5 minutes, covered.
• Fluff with a fork **Important** or it turns to a brick!
• Can be served hot or chill to make a wonderful salad.

COUSCOUS SAUSAGE MEDITERRANEAN

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook until it softens, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add the crumbled sausage and cook until it is mostly browned, about 7-9 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Careful not to let it burn!) Reduce heat to medium.
• Add the tomato and basil and cook until tomato softens, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Quick now, cook the couscous: bring broth to a boil, add couscous; remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes. Stir and fluff with a fork.
• Mix cooked sausage mixture with the cooked couscous and crumbled feta (if using). Season to taste with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and squeeze over a bit of freshly squeeze lemon or lime juice. Serve!
• Servings: about 6.
• Mike's suggestions for substitutions/additions: 1 Tbsp finely chopped calamata olive, chopped mushroom, chopped artichoke heart, chopped sundried tomato, sautéed fennel, spinach, chopped cucumber.
• As far as sausage goes, we use our homemade lamb-based French Merguez (also posted here at http://www.food.com/recipe/french-merguez-sausages-culinary-communion-340487) which is astoundingly good. But a flavorful Italian sausage would be good, too. Seasoned turkey sausage would be fine if you want to make it even leaner. Or hey, mmm, chorizo! You can even use vegetarian no-meat sausage, if you like - just pay attention to the seasonings so it doesn't turn out tasting bland.
• Re tomatoes: I dislike cooked tomato peel, so I prefer to not use cherry tomatoes for this dish. Regular chopped fresh tomato is my preference.
• This is a really versatile recipe, you can substitute ingredients to achieve whatever flavor profile you want. Also, we get our couscous in bulk because otherwise it's far too expensive to buy in prepackaged little boxes.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE COUSCOUS POT

Steps:

• Heat a large soup pot with the EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and brown all over for about 5 minutes. Move the sausage to one side of the pot and then add the sliced chicken. Season liberally with salt and pepper and add the poultry seasoning. Brown the chicken for about 3 minutes, then turn to brown opposite side. Add the onion, garlic, celery, and bell pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the defrosted green beans and the chicken stock. Bring the liquid up to a simmer, then add the olives, capers, orange slices, and orange zest, and stir to distribute. Stir in the couscous and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Turn the stove off and let the pot sit covered for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and add the parsley while fluffing the dish with a serving fork. Serve immediately, making sure everyone gets a sausage link.
• Broths and stocks have come a long way in the last few years, not only with their taste and consistency but with their packaging, too. They now come in resealable paper containers found on the soup aisle right alongside the cans. The paper containers make storage of remaining product easy; always keep some on hand in your refrigerator. Stocks especially add long-cooked flavor to any quick-cooking dish!

ISRAELI COUSCOUS & CHICKEN SAUSAGE SKILLET

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onion and celery; cook and stir until sausage is browned, 6-8 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Stir in broth, water and pepper flakes; bring to a boil. Stir in couscous. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed, 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Stir in parsley. If desired, sprinkle with cheese.

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Stir in the cumin, ginger, cloves, cayenne, cardamom, coriander, and allspice; gently toast until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in oil and onion, cook until softened. Stir in the bell pepper, and zucchini; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the raisins, salt, zest, and garbanzos.
• Pour in the chicken broth and orange juice; turn heat to high and bring to a boil. When the mixture is boiling, stir in the couscous and remove from heat; cover, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, and fold in chopped mint.

MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Bring stock to boil in covered pot. Add couscous, remove from heat and allow to sit for five minutes, until liquid has been absorbed.
• Whisk oil, vinegar, mustard and garlic in a serving bowl. Add orange zest, jalapenos, olives and capers, and mix well. Stir in the red pepper, zucchini, onion and fennel, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the couscous.
• If not serving immediately, refrigerate without the tomatoes. No more than 30 minutes before serving, cut up the tomatoes and stir in.