Buttered Couscous With Pomegranate And Almonds Recipes

BUTTERED COUSCOUS WITH POMEGRANATE AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Halve the pomegranates and pick out the seeds. Divide the couscous between two large mixing bowls and pour 570ml (1 pint) boiling water into each one. Cover with a clean cloth and leave for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a frying pan and add the almonds. Cook them until they are golden, stirring now and then. This will only take a few minutes. Keep an eye on them as they can burn quite easily.
• Season the cousous and fluff with a fork. Divide the buttery almonds, pomegranate seeds and herbs between the bowls of couscous and stir.

YVONNE MAFFEI'S ROAST CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS, DATES AND BUTTERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large ovenproof dish or pot with a tight lid, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, the ginger, the pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken and rub it around in the mixture until evenly coated. Turn chicken breast side down and roast, uncovered, for 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine couscous, 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside for 5 to 15 minutes to soak.
• In a small skillet, melt the butter. Add almonds and cook, stirring constantly, just until toasted and golden; adjust heat so almonds and butter do not scorch. Turn off heat and stir in dates.
• Add almond-date mixture to couscous, along with any butter left in pan, and mix, fluffing the grains with a fork. Mix in 2 tablespoons olive oil, the sugar, the cinnamon and the orange blossom water (if using).
• Drizzle or paint honey over top of chicken (leave chicken breast-side down in pot). Add couscous mixture to the pot, arranging it around the chicken. Cover tightly with a lid or foil and return to the oven for 30 minutes more.
• Remove from the oven. When cool enough to handle, remove chicken and carve into serving pieces. Stir and fluff couscous, scraping up any chicken skin stuck to bottom of pan, and place chicken pieces back on top of couscous. Sprinkle with chopped herbs and serve immediately.

COUSCOUS WITH POMEGRANATE, MINT AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl whisk together olive oil, vinegar, salt, fresh mint, fennel, pine nuts and za'atar if available. Add couscous and gently incorporate dressing and couscous with a fork. Add pomegranate seeds and again gently fold through but this time with a spoon. Allow salad to remain at room temperature for a half an hour so that flavors can blossom