Couscous Caps Recipes

COUSCOUS CAPS

Steps:

• Remove stems from mushrooms and finely chop stems; set caps aside. In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, saute onions and chopped mushrooms until crisp-tender. Add 1/2 cup broth; cook and stir until liquid is evaporated and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring remaining broth to a boil. Stir in couscous. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes or until broth is absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Add to onion mixture. Stir in 2 tablespoons cheese, mayonnaise, basil and tarragon. Stuff into mushroom caps., Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 375° for 10-15 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Just before serving, sprinkle with paprika.

CITRUS COUSCOUS CUPS

Steps:

• Cook's Note: To toast the almonds, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool completely before using.
• Special equipment: 24-count nonstick mini-muffin pan; 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter
• For the pastry cups: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 24-count nonstick mini-muffin pan with vegetable oil cooking spray. Unroll the pie crusts on a lightly floured work surface. Using a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, cut 12 circles of dough from each crust. Press the dough into the prepared muffin cups. Bake until light golden, 10 minutes. Cool completely before filling, 15 minutes.
• For the salad: Bring the broth, orange zest, orange juice and cumin to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the couscous and remove the pan from the heat. Cover the pan until the liquid had been absorbed and the couscous is tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Fluff the couscous and break up any lumps, using a fork. Toss together the couscous, mandarin oranges, almonds and parsley in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the dressing: Whisk together the oil, orange juice, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
• To assemble: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until coated. Spoon the mixture into the cooled pastry cups and serve.

PERFECT COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine the water or broth, olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous and immediately remove from the heat. Cover and let sit 5 minutes.
• Fluff the couscous thoroughly with a fork (the more you fluff, the more separate and light the grains will be). Season with salt and pepper. If you are making the couscous ahead, spread while hot on a baking sheet lined with parchment to stop the cooking as it cools. Once cool, refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days.

STUFFED MUSHROOM CAPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to a hot 220C degrees.
• Line a 13x11 oven tray with foil; grease the foil.
• Remove mushroom stalks from the caps; chop finely.
• Arrange caps on tray.
• Heat oil in frying pan, add bacon.
• Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add chopped mushroom stems.
• Cook over high heat for 2 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat.
• Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl.
• Add breadcrumbs, garlic, onion, cheese,parsley and egg; using wooden spoon, stir until combined.
• Divide bacon and mushroom mix evenly into 10 portions.
• Press mix into each cap.
• Bake for 12 minutes or until lightly golden.

COUSCOUS-STUFFED MUSHROOM CAPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
• Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and roast them for 5 minutes, just until they turn slightly more brown (this can also be done in a small skillet on top of the stove. Stir them constantly so they don't burn).
• Set a large saute pan containing the oil over low heat for less than a minute. Drop in the garlic and the shallots. Add the soy sauce, wine, and mushrooms and simmer covered until the mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to shake the mushrooms so the cooking liquid falls back into the pan (reserve the liquid), then place the drained mushrooms, cavity-side-up, in a baking dish.
• Bring the stock or water to a boil in a separate pot, pour in the couscous, reduce the heat, and simmer covered for two minutes. Remove from heat and let it stand, covered, for 10 minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed. Dump the couscous into the skillet with the reserved mushroom liquid and cook over low heat until all the liquid is absorbed.
• Lightly season the mushroom caps with salt and pepper. Mix the remaining ingredients, including the nuts, into the cooked couscous. Using a tablespoon, pile a small mound of filling inside the cap of each mushroom. Bake for 10 minutes or until the stuffing is lightly browned on top.

COUSCOUS CAPRESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
• Pour boiling water over couscous in a bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let couscous soak until the water is completely absorbed, about 5 minutes.
• Slice the tops from tomatoes and take a very small slice of the bottoms so they will be stable upright. Use a spoon to remove and discard the tomato innards. Put tomatoes in the prepared baking dish.
• Bake tomatoes in the preheated oven until lightly charred at the edges, about 20 minutes.
• Line the inner walls of each tomato with 4 basil leaves.
• Toss mozzarella cheese with the couscous; stuff into tomatoes. Drizzle balsamic vinegar over the top of the stuffed tomatoes.