Israeli Couscous With Asparagus Recipes

LEMONY ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add Israeli couscous. Toast couscous until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly pour in boiling water. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until couscous is tender and water has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until starting to soften, about 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high. Add asparagus and a pinch of salt; saute until asparagus is tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir lemon zest into the asparagus in the last few minutes of cooking. Add cooked couscous and toss with the asparagus mixture. Stir in lemon juice. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS, PEAS, AND SUGAR SNAPS

Steps:

• Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, 1 garlic clove, and lemon peel in small bowl; set dressing aside. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add couscous, sprinkle with salt, and sauté until most of couscous is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add 1 3/4 cups broth, increase heat, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 10 minutes, adding more broth by tablespoonfuls if too dry.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add asparagus, sugar snap peas, green peas, and remaining garlic clove. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; sauté until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer vegetables to large bowl.
• Add couscous to bowl with vegetables. Drizzle dressing over. Add chives and cheese; toss. Season with salt and pepper.
• Test-kitchen tip:
• To trim asparagus, hold onto the top of the stalk with one hand and bend the bottom of the stalk with your other hand. The stalk will snap, separating the woody end from the tender top.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS AND ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook 8 to 10 minutes, until couscous has puffed up and is cooked through to the center. Drain and allow to cool. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Prepare dressing by whisking together the lemon juice and mustard while drizzling in the olive oil. Once slightly emulsified, stir in pepper flakes and season with salt and cracked black pepper.
• Toss the tomato, currants, cucumber, red bell pepper, onion and arugula with the couscous. Pour the dressing over top. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss to the combine.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH MIXED SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and score down the middle, down to but not through the skin. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment, brush with olive oil and place the eggplant on it, cut side down. Roast 15 to 20 minutes, until the skin is beginning to wrinkle. Remove from the heat and allow the eggplant to cool until you can handle it, then cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Heat 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 the garlic, the spices and salt to taste. Stir together for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is fragrant, and add the tomatoes. Cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in all of the vegetables, the tomato paste, and 2 to 2 1/2 quarts water, enough to cover the vegetables by a good inch. Add salt to taste, the bouquet garni and the chickpeas, bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the broth is fragrant. Taste and adjust seasonings. If serving the next day, remove from the heat and allow to cool, then refrigerate overnight. Bring back to a simmer about 30 minutes before serving.
• Gradually add the Israeli couscous to the simmering stew, stirring all the while. Stir for a minute or two to make sure the couscous doesn't clump together. Simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the couscous is tender. Add freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt. Stir in the herbs shortly before serving.

CUCUMBER AND ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan and add the couscous. Stir until the couscous begins to color and smell toasty, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 2 cups water and salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes, or until the couscous is tender. Drain if any liquid remains in the pan.
• Transfer the couscous to a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice, parsley, mint, tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions or chives and salt to taste. Add the olive oil, toss together, taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with lettuce leaves.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PRESERVED LEMON

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.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• To cook asparagus place water in a medium saucepan; bring water to a boil. Add asparagus, and cook 2 minutes or just until crisp-tender; drain. Place asparagus in ice water 1 minute; drain. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken broth and salt; bring to a boil. Add couscous; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and cook 5 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus, black pepper, red bell pepper and cashews. Cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS, CUCUMBER AND OLIVES

Steps:

• In a small non-reactive bowl combine the garlic, lemon juice and Dijon mustard. Whisk in the oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Bring the broth to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Stir in the couscous. Cover pan, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the couscous is tender and all the broth is absorbed, approximately 10 minutes.
• Transfer the couscous to a serving bowl, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Cool the couscous to room temperature.
• Once cooled, stir in the blanched asparagus, cucumber, olives, green onions, and 1/4 cup mint leaves. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Gently mix in the feta cheese.
• Garnish with mint sprigs.

TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH VEGETABLES AND LEMON-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Heat large saute pan on grates of the grill over medium heat. Add couscous and toast until lightly golden brown.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil over high heat, add 1 tablespoon salt and toasted couscous and cook until al dente. Drain well and place in a large bowl. Add grilled vegetables, olives, basil, and vinaigrette and toss until combined; season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving or cover and refrigerate.
• Whisk shallot, juice, zest, vinegars, and salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified.

LEMONY ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add Israeli couscous. Toast couscous until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly pour in boiling water. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until couscous is tender and water has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until starting to soften, about 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high. Add asparagus and a pinch of salt; saute until asparagus is tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir lemon zest into the asparagus in the last few minutes of cooking. Add cooked couscous and toss with the asparagus mixture. Stir in lemon juice. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• Bring water and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add couscous, and simmer, covered, until tender, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium high-sided skillet over high heat. Cook brussels sprouts leaves until tender and lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon zest and juice. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir brussels sprouts leaves into couscous. Stir in remaining tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.