Couscous With Mint Yogurt Sauce Recipes

SHISH KABOB WITH YOGURT SAUCE AND LEMON-OLIVE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high or broiler with oven rack set on second level from the top of oven.
• Combine 1/4 cup olive oil, just eyeball the amount, with spices and grill seasoning in a shallow bowl or dish. Add lamb to seasonings and coat evenly in the mixture. Skewer the meat on metal skewers and let sit for 10 minutes. Cook on a hot grill or under the broiler for 7 to 8 minutes for medium-rare.
• Thread the onions and peppers onto skewers, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on grill or under the broiler for 12 to 15 minutes or until tender.
• Combine yogurt with garlic, mint and parsley.
• In a sauce pot toast pine nuts over medium heat, remove and reserve. Add butter, zest of lemon, and chicken stock to pot and bring to a boil. Stir couscous and olives, cover the pot and remove from heat. Let the couscous stand 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and toss in the pine nuts.
• Stir the lemon juice into yogurt to thin.
• Serve meat and vegetables with dipping sauce, couscous and toasted pita alongside.

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS, SPINACH AND MINT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the spices. Stir together for about half a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and add the drained chickpeas, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add the tomato paste, the harissa and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender. Remove 1 cup of the broth to flavor the couscous.
• Reconstituting and steaming the couscous: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the couscous and salt to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the couscous and add the cup of broth you removed from the stew. Stir well, or moisten your fingers and rub the couscous with them to evenly distribute the oil and broth. Add enough water to cover by 1/2 inch and let sit for 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon or rub the couscous between your moistened thumbs and fingers, so that the couscous doesn't lump. The couscous will now be fairly soft; fluff it with a fork or with your hands. The traditional way to finish reconstituting the couscous is to place it above the simmering stew for 45 minutes. I find, however, that steaming it in a microwave results in perfectly fluffy couscous. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic and pierce the plastic with the tip of a paring knife. Heat at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully and allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plastic and fluff with forks or a spoon. Cover again with plastic and microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plastic as the couscous will be steamy. You can reconstitute the couscous a day ahead and reheat in the microwave shortly before serving.
• Shortly before serving, stir in the spinach and the mint. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. The stew should be spicy and flavorful. Serve the couscous in wide bowls or mound onto plates and top with the stew. Pass more harissa at the table.

COUSCOUS WITH MINT-YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Saute the onion in the olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Stir in dry couscous and toast for 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, carrot, currants, apricots, and spices. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, mix the yogurt, mint, garlic, honey, orange juice concentrate, and salt.
• Combine ingredients and refrigerate for at least one hour. Garnish with a few mint leaves.

MINTED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a bowl, stir together the couscous, garlic, lemon zest, scallions, a pinch of salt and a grind or 2 of pepper. In a pot on high heat, bring the chicken stock and butter to a boil. Immediately pour over the couscous mixture, then quickly cover tightly with a lid or plastic wrap. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add the mint, fluff with a fork and stir in the olive oil. Serve warm.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH MINT AND LEMON

Steps:

• Bring pot of salted water to a boil Add couscous, and cook until al dente, Drain, and drizzle with just enough oil to coat. Spread on a baking sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Combine couscous and remaining ingredients. Let stand at room temperature for least 30 minutes before serving.

CITRUS-INFUSED ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH MINT

Steps:

• In medium saucepan over medium-low heat, heat olive oil. Add shallot; cook until translucent but not browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add couscous; stir to coat with oil. Add stock, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until couscous is soft and all liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Remove couscous from heat; stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and mint. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

LAMB CHOPS WITH YOGURT-MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir together mint, yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Pat half of lamb chops dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté chops, turning once, 6 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer chops to a plate and keep warm, covered with foil. Dry, season, and sauté remaining chops in same manner.
• Serve topped with yogurt-mint sauce.