Couscous With Fish Tomatoes And Quinces Recipes

ONE-POT SMOKY FISH WITH TOMATO, OLIVES AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a large (12-inch) skillet (use one with a tight-fitting lid), heat the olive oil over medium. If using fresh red bell pepper, add it with the onion, and cook, tossing occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, pat the fish fillets dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
• If using roasted red peppers, add them with the garlic, anchovies, paprika and cayenne, and cook for 1 more minute, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the wine and stir to scrape up any brown bits from the pan. When the wine has almost entirely evaporated, add the chicken stock, tomatoes, olives, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Add the couscous, stir, then add the fish fillets, wiggling them lightly to submerge them in the sauce. Turn the heat to low, cover and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Carefully transfer the fish to a plate. Simmer the couscous, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until it's tender and the liquid in the pan has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Off the heat, stir in the vinegar and gently return the fish to the skillet to warm, being careful to keep it intact. Serve hot in shallow bowls garnished with additional parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.

MEDITERRANEAN FISH & COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Take one small sheet of foil, about A4 size, and put one fish fillet on top. Season the fish, then drizzle with half of the lemon juice and zest, half the sliced chillies and half of the basil.
• Halve 4 of the tomatoes and put these around the fish. Place another sheet of foil on top and fold the edges together to seal. Repeat with the other piece of fish and transfer to a baking sheet. Cook for 15-18 mins until the bag has puffed up (or cook on the barbecue).
• While the fish is cooking pour 100ml of boiling water over the couscous, cover, then leave to swell for 5 mins. Chop the rest of the tomatoes and mix with the couscous, balsamic, cucumber, the remaining basil, lemon juice and zest and olives. Season and serve alongside the fish with the lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over.

COUSCOUS WITH FISH, TOMATOES, AND QUINCES

Steps:

• Prepare the grain as described in "An Easy Way of Preparing Quick-Cooking Couscous in the Oven" (page 376), using the quantities given in the ingredients list above, and olive oil instead of vegetable oil.
• Cut the quinces in half and trim off the darkened ends. This fruit is very hard, so use a large strong knife to press down on them. Put them in a pan, cover with water, and simmer about 20 minutes, until just tender. Strain and keep the cooking water. Cut into quarters and remove the cores and pips.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil, put in the tomatoes and add the sugar, salt, pepper, and saffron. Cook until the tomatoes soften and fall apart. Put in the quinces and add 2 ladles of the quince water. Simmer until the quinces are very tender. This is the sauce.
• Brush a large sheet of foil (or 2 if you are cooking 2 fish) generously with oil. Place the fish in the middle and sprinkle lightly with salt. Wrap in a baggy parcel, twisting the foil edges together to seal it. Bake at 450°F. The cooking time depends on the size of the fish. Test for doneness for a large fish after about 30 minutes, for smaller ones after 20 minutes. Cut down to the backbone at the thickest part and check that the flesh flakes and has turned white and opaque right through.
• Serve the couscous in a large round dish. Put the fish in the middle and the sauce around it.

COUSCOUS WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cut away cores of tomatoes. Cut tomatoes into 1/4-inch cubes. There should be about 3/4 cup.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan and add onion. Cook, stirring, until wilted. Add saffron and stir. Add tomatoes and cook about 2 minutes, stirring. Add salt, pepper and water and bring to boil.
• Add couscous, stir and cover closely. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in coriander and remaining 1 tablespoon butter and serve.

COUSCOUS WITH TOMATOES AND SCALLION

Steps:

• Combine canned tomatoes, scallion, pepper, garlic powder, water, and salt in a medium saucepan.
• Bring liquid to a boil.
• Stir in couscous.
• Cover pan and remove from heat.
• Let stand for 5 minutes.
• Remove lid and fluff couscous with fork.
• Stir in olives and fresh parsley and serve.

FISH WITH QUINCES

Steps:

• Fry the garlic in the oil until it only just begins to color. Add the tomatoes, salt, and sugar, and put in the chilies. Peel and grate the ginger, or cut it into small pieces and crush it in a garlic press to extract the juice over the pan. Add the saffron and the raisins and simmer over low heat. Put in the quinces as you peel them so that they do not turn brown. They are a very hard fruit, and you need a large strong knife to cut them.
• Cook, covered, for 15 to 30 minutes, or until the quinces are tender. The time varies depending on the size, quality, and ripeness of the fruit. Remove one or both of the chilies when you think the sauce is hot enough. Five to 10 minutes before serving, add the fish, and simmer until the flesh begins to flake. Serve the fish stew and the couscous in separate dishes.