Alfred Portales Summer Squab Salad With Couscous And Curry Recipes

ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD WITH GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat a grill pan over medium heat. Season zucchini, squash, eggplant, onion, and red pepper with salt and pepper. Lightly brush vegetables with oil.
• Place zucchini and squash on grill pan and cook, turning once, 3 minutes per side; transfer to a plate. Place eggplant on grill pan and cook, turning once, until nicely caramelized and tender, about 4 minutes per side; transfer to plate with zucchini and squash. Place onion on grill pan and cook, turning once, 4 minutes per side; transfer to plate with zucchini, squash, and eggplant.
• Place red pepper on grill and cook until all sides are charred, about 10 minutes. Place the pepper in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap; let steam 10 to 15 minutes. Remove pepper from bowl and peel using a paring knife. Cut pepper in half, remove stem and discard seeds; transfer pepper to plate with zucchini, squash, eggplant, and onion.
• Cut all vegetables into bite-size pieces; set aside.
• Bring a large pot filled with water to a boil over high heat. Add salt and return to a boil. Add couscous and cook until al dente, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and place couscous in a large serving bowl; toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add grilled vegetables, tomatoes, parsley, and basil; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together lemon juice, garlic, and sumac powder. Slowly whisk in remaining 1/4 cup oil; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over couscous salad and gently toss to combine; season with salt and pepper.

SUNNY'S SIMPLE SUMMERTIME COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, orange juice, a pinch of salt, mustard, olive oil and a few grinds of black pepper. Whisk until combined, then slowly add the oil while whisking until it is all combined. Taste and season with more salt, if needed. Set aside.
• Make the salad: To the bowl of dressing, add the cooked couscous, cucumbers and sweet peppers. Toss to coat and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, tossing a few times as it chills.
• Finish and serve. Remove the salad from the refrigerator and toss again. Garnish with the orange sections, basil and mint.

ALFRED PORTALE'S SUMMER SQUAB SALAD WITH COUSCOUS AND CURRY

Steps:

• Place the couscous in a bowl. Bring the chicken broth to a boil with the butter. Pour over the couscous and allow to stand five minutes.
• In a small dish combine the salt, pepper, mustard, ginger, curry powder and garlic. Stir in the lemon juice. Beat in all but about a teaspoon of the oil.
• Fluff the softened couscous with a fork and stir in three tablespoons of the curry dressing along with the scallions.
• Bone the breasts of the squabs by cutting along the breastbone and cutting away the meat in a single piece down to the rib cage. Cut off the legs.
• Wipe a heavy skillet with the remaining oil. Cook the squab breasts and legs over medium-high heat, turning once, until browned but still rare to medium-rare, about eight minutes for the breasts and three to five minutes for the legs.
• Divide the couscous among four salad plates. Top with raisins. Place some of the greens alongside the couscous on each plate and drizzle a tablespoon or so of dressing over them. Slice the squab breasts on the diagonal and arrange the pieces of breast and leg on each of the plates. Moisten with remaining dressing and serve.