Best Add A Little Interest With Persian Couscous Recipes

ADD A LITTLE INTEREST WITH PERSIAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Stir the couscous, stock powder, sugar and grated orange rind, together in a bowl.
• Add the boiling water, cover, and leave to stand for 6 minutes.
• Heat the nuts and currants in the butter or oil in a small frying pan, until the nuts brown lightly, and the currants puff up.
• Add the chopped apricots.
• Stir the hot nuts and fruit through the couscous.
• Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature, adding the finely chopped spring onions and coriander just before serving.

PERSIAN BEEF AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat oil on medium high.
• Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper and brown in oil for 5-8 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add stock and cinnamon, bring to boil.
• Reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour.
• Stir in onions, squash or sweet potato, vinegar, and honey, bring back to a boil Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes until meat and vegetables are tender.
• Meanwhile, cook couscous in another pot.
• Add prunes and chick peas to stew, cover, and heat just until mixture returns to a boil (about 2 minutes).
• Serve stew over couscous.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH PISTACHIOS AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium-low heat.
• Place the garlic and oil in the pan and saute for 1 minute.
• Add the couscous, raise the heat to medium, and stir constantly for 4 minutes; the couscous should start to toast-- add the cinnamon stick, cumin, cardamom, pepper, and salt to toast a bit-KEEP stirring for another one to two minutes.
• Add broth and lime zest.
• Raise the heat and bring to a boil.
• Once the mixture is boiling, lower the heat again to as low as possible and cover.
• In about 10 minutes, most of broth should have been absorbed.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the mint, and the apricots, pistachios, and lime juice.
• Stir, cover again, and cook for 5 more minutes.
• At this point, the broth should be thoroughly absorbed.
• Remove the cinnamon stick, fluff the couscous with a fork, garnish with the remaining mint, and serve.

COUSCOUS SALAD WITH DRIED APRICOTS AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a small dry skillet, toast cumin seeds until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly crush them using a mortar and a pestle (or use the flat side of a heavy knife and a cutting board). Add to a bowl with the warm couscous, vinegar, salt and pepper and toss well. When the couscous is cool, add remaining ingredients and mix well. Taste and add more salt, lemon juice or oil if needed. Garnish with pistachio nuts if desired.