Best Pearl Couscous Recipes

PEARL COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir couscous in the hot oil until toasted and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups water to couscous and bring to a boil; cover skillet and cook until couscous is tender, about 10 minutes. Rinse couscous in a colander with cold water and transfer to a bowl. Mix 1/4 cup olive oil into couscous and stir to coat.
• Place lentils in a small pan and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until lentils are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and rinse lentils under cold water in a colander; add to couscous.
• Mix tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, cranberries, raisins, red onion, chives, parsley, green onion, and sumac into couscous-lentil mixture.
• Beat 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; pour over couscous-lentil mixture and stir until coated. Refrigerate salad for flavors to blend, 8 hours to overnight.

LEMON INFUSED COUSCOUS PEARLS

Steps:

• Heat small pot with a tablespoon of butter, 1 shallot and the zest of half a lemon.
• Over medium heat, we are going to melt the butter and let the butter get infused with the flavors of the shallot and the lemon zest. Give this about 3 minutes. Again, you are sweating the aromatics not browning them.
• Throw in a cup of your Israel couscous and toss everything together, ensuring your couscous is covered by the shallot and butter mixture. Essentially you are toasting them a bit. Do this for about 2 minutes.
• Pour in 1 and 1/4 cups of chicken broth, stock or water. I find the chicken stocks and broths give it a more savory flavor. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered for 10 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork. This will ensure you have light and fluffy individual grains. Sprinkle in 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and mix with a fork. Taste for seasoning.
• Serve in a bowl with some more lemon zest, chopped parsley and nice shredding of Parmesan cheese on top.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a medium (2-quart) saucepan. Add the couscous, return to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to a simmer. Let cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
• In the bottom of a large bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired. While the couscous is still warm, add it to the bowl and toss to coat. Place in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes to allow the couscous to cool.
• When ready to serve, add the remaining ingredients: arugula, cucumber, tomatoes, feta, and mint. Toss to combine. Serve cold or at room temperature.

HOW TO COOK PEARL COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium high heat.
• Add butter.
• Once butter is melted, add couscous and sauté until nice and golden, stirring frequently, 3-5 minutes.
• Add broth and bring it to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to simmer and cover the pot. Continue to cook for about 10 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and couscous is soft.

HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• heat up one tbsp of the olive oil in a small sauce pan over medium to high heat
• sautée onion until transparent, about 2-3 mins
• add garlic and sautée until frangrant, about 1 minute
• add dry couscous and stir
• add salt, stir
• add water* thyme and bay leaf
• bring it to a boil then reduce to a slow simmer
• cover and let it simmer until all the water has been absorbed (about 10 mins)
• after all liquid has been absorbed, remove the thyme sprig and the bay leaf and discard
• add remaining tbsp of olive oil, the parsley and the lemon zest, stir to combine